SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Parliamentary Question

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General what the (a) formal job titles and (b) grades were of the officials involved in drafting the parliamentary answer to Baroness Ramsey (HL2172); and from which Department each came.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by the Attorney General on 28 February 2005, Official Report, column WA1 and 14 March 2005, Official Report, column WA108. All the officials concerned were members of the senior civil service or, in the case of the FCO, Senior Management Structure.

Serious Fraud Trials

Kate Hoey: To ask the Solicitor-General what the reasons are for deciding that serious fraud trials should not be decided by jury.

Mike O'Brien: The Government's decision to implement section 43 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will give effect to recommendations made nearly 20 years ago by Lord Roskill's Fraud Trials Committee, and more recently by Sir Robin Auld in his Review of the Criminal Courts", that the most serious and complex fraud cases should be heard without a jury. The justification for the change is that the efforts made by the prosecution and the court to keep such cases to a manageable length mean that sometimes the defendant cannot be tried for charges that fully expose the extent of the criminality alleged. Moreover, notwithstanding these efforts, some trials are inordinately long and impose an unreasonable burden on juries, whose members ask to be excused and sometimes as a result the jury becomes unrepresentative. In other cases the number of jurors can fall worryingly low because jurors cannot continue to serve for a prolonged period.

Attorney-General (Publications)

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the publications issued by the Attorney-General's office in each of the last seven years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officers' Departments each publish a number of documents within a year. Detailed information for each publication is not available without incurring disproportionate cost. But the following information can be provided in respect of the costs of departmental report and departmental annual reports and business plans.
	
		
			 Department and publication 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Law Officers' Departments departmental report(1) — 4,327 4,485 6,849 7,618 6,197 5,160 
			 
			 Crown Prosecution Service
			 Annual report 22,695 22,387 18,600 24,340 34,000 35,741 29,903 
			 Business plan n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 13,536 15,898 
			 
			 Serious Fraud Office
			 Annual report 22,235 21,140 20,833 25,093 32,973 31,243 41,016 
			 Resource accounts n/a n/a n/a 2,269 2,564 2,564 2,737 
			 
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department   
			 Annual report and accounts 11,647 11,746 9,505 9,910 17,372 5,582 10,038 
			 Annual resource accounts n/a n/a n/a 2,413 2,564 2,564 2,591 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(1) Published by the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the Law Officers' Departments
	The Law Officers' Departments departmental report is a requirement of HM Treasury, explaining departmental expenditure plans and performance. It covers all the Law Officers' Departments and is laid in the Library of the House. The report is circulated throughout the Law Officers' Departments, to HM Treasury and is available to CJS partners and other Government Departments on request. From time to time, the Attorney-General's office also publishes an Attorney-General's review and individual reports on specific areas of work.
	The Director of Public Prosecutions is required to report annually to the Attorney-General under section 9 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The business plan describes key business initiatives and how the CPS plans to deliver its performance targets. The annual report is laid in the Library of the House. Both documents are circulated throughout the CPS headquarters and its 42 areas in England and Wales, to Criminal Justice System partners and other Government Departments.
	HM Crown Prosecution Service was established as an independent statutory body on 1 October 2000. It is required to publish its Chief Inspector's annual report under section 2(2) of the Crown Prosecution Services Act 2002. A copy is laid in the Library of the House. The annual report and business plan are available on HMCPSI's website. HMCPSI also publishes inspection reports which are its core business and distributed to the Law Officers, senior managers in the CPS, to the staff of the business units inspected and those interviewed, as well as media and academics who have requested copies. Area reports are also sent to Members of Parliament whose constituents are served by the inspected area. HMCPSI also published a Race Equality Scheme (April 2002) and a Freedom of Information Scheme (July 2003).
	The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office was established in April 2005 and has to date made no publications. For its predecessor, the Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office, details appropriate to annual reports and business plans were in included in the relevant documents for HM Customs and Excise.
	The Serious Fraud Office annual report and resource accounts are also a statutory publications, the former designed to inform readers about the work of the office.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department is an agency. As such, its annual report includes its accounts, although its resource accounts have also been published separately since 2000–01. The annual report provides a description of the Treasury Solicitor's business, its aims and objectives and business strategy with a review of performance over the past year and of its finances and accounts. The report is laid in the Library of the House. Copies are provided to the Law Officers, to other Law Officers' Departments, internally to staff and, on request, to media and clients. The business plan is distributed electronically internally. Both annual report and business plan are now available on the website. The Treasury Solicitor's Department has also published the Government Legal Service Journal and Government Legal Service Recruitment Brochure for circulation to universities and other educational establishments or potential applicants, to raise the profile and attract recruits to the Government Legal Service.

Work-related Stress

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in the Law Offices in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: This answer covers those Departments for which I am accountable—the Crown Prosecution Service CPS, the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) and EM CPS Inspectorate (HMCPSI).
	CPS
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold records for cases of work-related stress.
	There have been two cases in the last three financial years (2002–03 to 2004–05) in which staff have made a claim against the CPS for injury due to work-related stress. One claim was withdrawn, and the Service reached an out of court settlement for £10,000 without acceptance of liability in the remaining case.
	The total number of days lost and the estimated cost is shown in the following table for the two cases in which work-related stress" was alleged.
	
		
			  Days lost Cost (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 85 23,708 
			 2003–04 32 8,925 
			 2004–05 26 7,252 
		
	
	The CPS provides Counselling and Support services for all its staff. The cost of this over the last three years was £550,054. Over the past year, extra support has been provided to those whose work entails the handling of sensitive and difficult casework.
	SFO
	
		
			 Financial year Number of cases reported Work days lost 
		
		
			 2002–03 3 42 
			 2003–04 — 1 
			 2004–05 2 18 
			 Total 7 61 
		
	
	No compensation was paid in respect of cases of work related stress. Salaries continued to be paid during each period of absence.
	The cost to the SFO of the lost work days was £6,166.
	The Serious Fraud Office is committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to sickness absence. The SFO's strategy is based upon the continuing need to support staff as well as to generally help line managers to take a proactive role in what can be a sensitive area. The strategy results in no additional cost to the office.
	TSols
	While The Treasury Solicitor's Department monitors all sick absence, it does not have a specific system in place for reporting and monitoring cases of work-related stress.
	The Department subscribes to a free and confidential telephone helpline service, offering support and information on a wide range of issues, including stress. The Welfare Officer is available to all staff during the working day and face-to-face surgeries are held every six weeks. All staff may apply to alter their standard working patterns under the flexible working arrangements scheme. The only direct cost is that for the telephone helpline service at £6,000 per annum.
	HMCPSI
	HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's (HMCPSI) records show no days having been lost due to cases of work-related stress in any of the last three years. No cost is therefore associated with days lost or compensation paid.
	Workload is monitored and managed appropriately by line managers. Staff attendance is also monitored and staff are able to tailor working arrangements to suit personal circumstances by discussion with line managers, in accordance with our policies on leave and attendance as set out in the Staff Handbook.
	HMCPSI are committed to providing a healthy and secure environment for its staff. There is a Health and Safety Policy, that covers such issues. Forums for staff to raise any such concerns include Whitley council (where health and safety is a standing agenda item), the HMCPSI Sounding Board and group meetings. To date no concerns regarding work-related stress have been raised.
	RCPO
	RCPO is a new Department created on 18 April 2005 when staff transferred from HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue. Systems operating in the predecessor Departments do not separately record work-related stress.
	The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office has policies and procedures in place to address the long hours culture, performance management, personal development and attendance management. It also has anti-bullying policies and deploys phased return to work to aid the rehabilitation of staff from long-term sick absence. A welfare service is provided for staff.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Housing Portfolio (London)

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what plans the Church Commissioners have to sell off their remaining housing portfolio in London.

Stuart Bell: Following the recent sale of residential properties at Stoke Newington, Maida Vale and part of the Waterloo estate, the Commissioners have decided to prepare their remaining properties on the Octavia Hill estates in London for sale.
	Over the coming months the Commissioners will be compiling information on these properties and this process will most likely take them into the autumn. They will be in a position to offer further information on how the sale will proceed when this stage is complete.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biofuels

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on providing further incentives for biofuel production.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 14 July 2005
	The Department is in regular contact with Treasury Ministers to discuss a whole range of matters related to energy and environmental policy. In addition, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, meets regularly with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of matters that affect the business of the Department. As with all tax matters, decisions on duty incentives rest with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether feed-based sources of BSE continue to be a problem.

Ben Bradshaw: An independent review by Professor William Hill FRS, of the University of Edinburgh, was requested by Defra and published on 7 July 2005. The review examined the possible reasons for the cases of BSE occurring since the reinforced feed ban in 1996, together with the control measures being applied by the government. The review's conclusions re-confirmed the elimination of feed-borne sources to be the key to the eradication of BSE, and recommended that risk-based controls and monitoring should be maintained on animals and feed.
	The review is available on Defra's internet site on the BSE home-page under 'Latest developments' at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/index.html.

Carbon Emissions

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total UK carbon emissions were for (a) commercial buses, (b) other commercial vehicles, (c) cars, (d) trains and (e) UK airlines for the most recent year for which information is available.

Elliot Morley: The total UK carbon emissions (in mega tonnes), for commercial buses, other commercial vehicles (defined as light goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles), cars, diesel rail and domestic and international aviation, for 2003, are shown as follows. These data are from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory published in 2005.
	When reporting emissions from rail following internationally agreed reporting guidelines, the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory only covers exhaust emission from diesel trains. Emissions from the generation of electricity at power stations that is used to supply electric trains are covered, separately, under 'power station' emissions.
	The aviation emissions refer to all civil aircraft at UK airports, not specifically those from UK airlines.
	
		
			  MtC 
		
		
			 Buses 0.97 
			 Other commercial vehicles 11.68 
			 Cars 19.39 
			 Diesel rail 0.26 
			 Aviation (domestic and international) 8.67

Carbon Emissions

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual volumetric change in UK carbon emissions attributable to (a) aviation and (b) road vehicles was for each of themost recent 10 years for which information is available.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows year on year changes in the volume of emissions of carbon dioxide from 1993–94 to 2002–03, for aviation (domestic and international) and for all road transport. These data are from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory published in 2005.
	
		Percentage increase
		
			  Aviation Road transport 
		
		
			 1993–94 3.38 0.54 
			 1994–95 6.33 -0.79 
			 1995–96 6.19 3.81 
			 1996–97 6.17 1.25 
			 1997–98 11.13 -0.63 
			 1998–99 8.78 0.81 
			 1999–2000 10.15 -0.64 
			 2000–01 -2.07 0.05 
			 2001–02 -1.71 2.05 
			 2002–03 2.49 -0.16

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the available EU Emissions Trading budget she estimates will be taken up by the aviation sector by 2040.

Elliot Morley: The European Commission is planning to publish a Communication on reducing the climate change impacts of aviation and has indicated that this may favour emissions trading. The UK has made taking forward this work programme a priority for the UK Presidency of the Council of Ministers. We want to use our Presidency to debate the options and agree a way forward.
	At present, it is too early to provide a reliable estimate of the amount of allowances covered by either the EU ETS or the aviation sector within it in 2040. Both of these will depend on a number of factors including the overall number of allowances any additional measures introduced and the detailed design for the inclusion of aviation into the EU ETS. These factors have yet to be specified and will be subject to discussion with other member states.

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what percentage of UK carbon emissions aviation was responsible in (a) 1990 and (b) 2000; and what estimate she has made of the likely percentage in (i) 2010, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2030, (iv) 2040 and (v) 2050 (A) assuming the absence of new policy levels to change behaviour and (B) assuming (A) but with the entry of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows an estimate of the percentage of total carbon dioxide emissions which aviation is responsible for at each decade from 1990 to 2050 assuming the absence of new policy.
	
		
			  Aviation as a percentage of total CO 2  emissions 
		
		
			 1990 2.7 
			 2000 5.5 
			 2010 7.6 
			 2020 11.5 
			 2030 15.3 
			 2040 18.3 
			 2050 21.2 
		
	
	The 1990 and 2000 figures are based on the latest UK greenhouse gas inventory.
	The projections for aviation emissions are based on central case forecasts by the DfT for the Air Transport White Paper.
	Projections of UK carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 and 2050 assume the UK will reach its Energy White Paper targets of 20 per cent. and 60 per cent. carbon dioxide emissions reduction from 1990 levels. These do not include international aviation. Projections for 2020, 2030 and 2040 assume linear interpolation of 2010 and 2050 Energy White Paper levels.
	The details of aviation's participation in the EU ETS will be decided by what the European Commission proposes, and what is negotiable and practicable.

GM Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures toavoid the unintended presence of genetically modified organisms in other products her Department has taken, with reference to Article 26A of EU Directive 2001/18.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Before there is any commercial GM cultivation we plan to have appropriate measures in place to ensure the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops, consistent with Article 26a of Directive 2001/18. No GM crops are expected to be grown here commercially before 2008 at the very earliest.

GM Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in establishing a liability regime in respect of GM crops.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Last year we held a number of stakeholder workshops as the first step in consulting on measures to ensure the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops. We plan to issue a full consultation paper on this issue later this year. It will set out options for a possible liability regime in respect of financial losses that might be incurred by non-GM farmers, if their crops have an unintended GM presence above the EU 0.9 per cent. labelling threshold.

GM Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what margin of buffer zone, in miles, she estimates is necessary to guarantee zero cross-contamination of non-GM crops by GM crops.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Non-GM crops can only be cross-pollinated by GM crops of the same or very closely related species. In addition, for some crops like beet or potatoes, cross-pollination does not affect the harvested material, so if a GM variety cross-pollinated a non-GM variety, the produce of the latter would not have any GM content. Pollen produced by crop plants may be dispersed by insects or on the wind. The frequency of cross-pollination events between crops decreases with distance, but it is known that they may occur infrequently over very long distances. This makes it difficult to think in terms of guaranteeing zero cross-contamination by the use of buffer zones.

GM Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what weight her Department gives to (a) environmental and (b) human health considerations in determining its policy on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 July 2005
	None. GM crops will not be approved for cultivation unless they pass a detailed case-by-case assessment of possible risks to human health or the environment. Co-existence measures are therefore not needed for safety reasons.

Hydrology (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the seven outlets which drain into rivers in Lancashire, broken down by river.

Elliot Morley: This information has been provided by the Environment Agency, and tables containing details of 203 sewer outlets which drain into rivers in Lancashire will be made available in the Library of the House.

Pollution (Hertfordshire)

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) air quality and (b) noise quality management areas there are in (i) St Albans and (ii) Hertfordshire; and how many there were in 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities only started reviewing and assessing local air quality from 1997 onwards.
	Within Hertfordshire, only two authorities have currently designated air quality management areas (AQMAs). Firstly, St. Albans city and district council designated six AQMAs in September 2002 in respect of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective. Following the further review and assessment which concluded that there had been an over-estimation of the levels of nitrogen dioxide, five of the AQMAs were revoked, which left one remaining AQMA close to the M25. Furthermore, following the second round of air quality reviews and assessments which started in May 2003, St. Albans declared two more AQMAs in November 2004; one area at the M1 junction 7 with M10; and the other comprising properties in London road, city centre.
	The other authority in Hertfordshire, Hertsmere borough council declared 14 AQMAs in September 2001; 10 of which were revoked in 2003. Following the second round of reviews and assessments Hertsmere declared a further two AQMAs in January 2005 bringing the total to six in their borough in respect of nitrogen dioxide, all of which relate to local road transport.
	DEFRA does not have an equivalent to the local air quality management system for noise; therefore no noise management area system was in place in 1997 or is in place now. However, legislation exists that allows local authorities to investigate and if necessary mitigate or control noise issues when they occur.

Pollution (Hertfordshire)

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of poor air quality on the structure of historic buildings in St. Albans; and what steps are being taken to reduce air pollution in St. Albans city centre.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not assessed the effect of poor air quality on the structure of historic buildings in St. Albans. The effect of acid rain on materials has been studied by the then Department of the Environment through the National Materials Exposure Programme (NMEP). This was initiated by Building Effects Review Group (BERG) in 1987 and consisted of 29 sites. The UK NMEP was part of the International Materials Exposure Programme set up under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe framework. The UK continues to maintain sites in London and Lincoln as part of this programme. Details of this programme can be found at www.unece.org/env/wge/materials.htm.
	In recent years concern for the effects of pollutants on heritage buildings has focussed on the multipollutant atmospheres found in modern urban areas. In cities such as St. Albans where brick is commonly used the main concern is the soiling of facades by particulates from vehicles. Details can be found at http://www.corr-institute.se/MULTI-ASSESS/
	The pollutants that form acid rain are principally sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These are released from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal and oil. The UK is a party to several protocols under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Pollution aimed at reducing emissions of acidifying gases. The UK has also agreed to meet emissions ceilings according to the national emissions ceilings directive. National emissions of sulphur dioxide have reduced from 3,721 kilotonnes in 1990 to 1,002 kilotonnes in 2002; and national emissions of nitrogen oxides have reduced from 2,771 kilotonnes in 1990 to 1,582 kilotonnes in 2002. These improvements are due mainly to reduced emissions from electricity generation, industry, domestic heating and road transport.
	St. Albans city and district council has designated three air quality management areas in respect of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective which has to be achieved by end of December 2005; one of the air quality management areas designated in November 2004 comprises properties in London Road, central St. Albans and this relates to emissions from local road transport.
	Once a local authority has designated an air quality management area, it has a duty to take action, along with other stakeholders, to work towards meeting the air quality objective(s). Where local road transport is identified as a major source of local air pollution concentrations, those local authorities are being recommended to integrate their air quality action plans into the local transport plan. St. Albans city and district council will therefore be working with Hertfordshire county council to take forward measures to tackle the emissions sources within the city centre.

REACH

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to discuss REACH during its EU Presidency; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: REACH is a high priority for our Presidency. We look forward to progressing it in Council and building on the good work of the preceding Presidencies. We will explore areas of common ground on the key issues with a view to achieving political agreement at the November Competitiveness Council. We hope to continue working closely with the European Parliament, member states, the Commission and Stakeholders in order to explore areas of agreement. We must make sure that any agreement in Council is workable and based on an effective balance between economic, social and environmental considerations.

Severn Trent (Ofwat Inquiry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate the transparency of the recent Ofwat inquiry into Severn Trent.

Elliot Morley: Ofwat's investigation is not yet complete. I am confident that the Director General of Water Services will complete a thorough and balanced investigation of the allegations and that he will take whatever action he deems to be necessary to protect the interests of customers and fulfil his statutory duties.
	I am aware that Ofwat has committed to publishing its findings and conclusions as well as providing details of its approach.

Severn Trent (Ofwat Inquiry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with Ofwat on its investigations into Severn Trent.

Elliot Morley: I have discussions with the Director General of Water Services from time to time.
	The Director General has mentioned to me his investigation into irregularities at Severn Trent Water. He has informed me that Ofwat have obtained a written assurance from Severn Trent that, if it were ever found that customers had been over charged, any necessary corrections would be effected in a prompt manner to be agreed between the company and Ofwat. The position of customers is therefore already protected.

Sewage Disposal

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many properties in Essex are not connected to the public sewer system.

Elliot Morley: Research undertaken for the Consultation Paper for the Review of Private Sewers in England and Wales published in July 2003 estimated that about 4 per cent. of properties nationally connect to entirely private systems. It was estimated that shared private sewers, which then discharge to public sewers further downstream, serve approximately 40–45 per cent. of properties. Specific estimates for individual counties are not held.

Sewage Disposal

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirements there are on sewerage companies to accept delivered waste from cess pools and septic tanks for disposal at sewage treatment works.

Elliot Morley: There is no statutory duty on a sewerage undertaker to accept delivered waste from cesspools and septic tanks. Services for the collection, transportation, and treatment of such waste are open to competition and are offered by sewerage companies and by other firms.

Sewage Disposal

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sewage sludge has been licensed for disposal on farms in the Maldon District; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The use of sewage sludge on agricultural land is regulated by The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989. These set out specific requirements to protect human and animal health and the environment, but do not impose any requirement to obtain a permit or licence.

Sewage Disposal

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tests have been carried out on sewage sludge at Sheepcoates Farm, Great Totham, by the Environment Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Under The Sewage (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 there is no requirement for the Environment Agency to undertake tests at specific sites where sewage sludge is applied. However we understand that the Agency has issued a formal warning following complaints about odours relating to sewage sludge operations at Sheepcoates Farm.

Sludge

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what identified hazards the proposed sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations address that are not addressed by the Safe Sludge Matrix; when the regulatory impact assessment on the regulations will be published; and what her assessment is of the cost of implementing the regulations.

Elliot Morley: The Safe Sludge Matrix introduced voluntary controls which provide additional protection against the entry of pathogens into the food chain. Theproposed amendments to the regulations would provide additional security by making these standards legally enforceable. They would also extend the ban to include septic tank sludge. A draft Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment, including costs, was published in October 2002 as part of the first consultation exercise on the proposals (please see www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/sewagesludge/index.htm).
	This is currently being revised and updated and a further version will be published as part of the second consultation planned for later this year.

Sustainable Development Action Plans

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has provided to Government Departments regarding the drawing up of their sustainable development action plans.

Elliot Morley: The UK sustainable development strategy 1 committed all central Government Departments and their executive agencies to produce
	1 Securing the Future: The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy Cm. 6467 March 2005.
	focused sustainable development action plans based onthe strategy by December 2005. The strategy also committed Government to strengthen the Sustainable Development Commission and to expand its role as an independent watchdog" looking at Government's progress on the strategy.
	The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has prepared draft guidance for Government Departments on what it considers to be the key elements of a good sustainable development action plan. This guidance has been made available to, and discussed with departmental officials and will be published on the SDC website shortly. A number of departments have already actively sought advice from the SDC about their proposed approach to the development of these plans.

Sustainable Procurement

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the criteria applied by the Sustainable Procurement Taskforce to purchases by Government Departments.

Elliot Morley: The Sustainable Procurement Task Force met for the first time on 26 May 2005. Its remit is to develop a National Action Plan for Sustainable procurement by April 2006. No specific criteria for Government Department purchases have been identified or determined by the Sustainable Procurement Task Force at this stage. The action plan will set out how to embed economic, environmental and social considerations into public procurement decisions.

UN Environment Programme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to support the transformation of the United Nations Environment Programme into a world environment organisation with enhanced powers.

Elliot Morley: It is HMG and EU policy to support the development of the United Nations Environment Programme into a specialised UN agency (or United Nations Environment Organisation) with a revised and strengthened mandate, supported by stable, adequate and predictable financial contributions.
	The Millennium Review Summit in September provides an opportunity to initiate a process of negotiations on this proposal, in the context of wider UN reform and the UN Secretary-General's recommendation on the need for a more integrated structure of international environmental governance.
	This position is set out in the Presidency Conclusions agreed at the 16–17 June 2005 European Council.

Warm Front Programme

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the targets are for the number of properties to be improved by the Warm Front programme in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The focus of the new phase of Warm Front is to maximise the impact of the scheme in tackling fuel poverty. We have extended the range of assistance offered to qualifying households to ensure that all those who are eligible can be offered central heating—the single measure most likely to take a household out of fuel poverty, whilst retaining the offer of insulation measures to those households where it is available.
	The Department agrees with the scheme manager, on an annual basis, the anticipated number of households to be assisted during a year, according to available funding. The final number will, however, depend on the characteristics and needs of those who apply to the scheme.
	It is anticipated that the number of households to be assisted under the revised Warm Front since its launch in June 2005 to March 2006 will be in the region of 100,000.
	As a result of the last spending round an additional £140 million was allocated to the Warm Front scheme taking Defra's annual spending to tackle fuel poverty to £251 million in 2007–08.

Water

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of households in the Wessex Water supply area use metered water.

Elliot Morley: 170,900 household water customers (35.5 per cent.) in the Wessex Water supply area receive a metered supply in 2005–06.

Water

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the obligations and requirements in relation to water abstraction licensing of water mills that derive power directly from the main stream are different from those water mills with a mill race.

Elliot Morley: Where water is diverted from a watercourse into a mill race then it is regarded as an abstraction. If the quantity diverted exceeds 20 cu m per day then it will be licensable.
	Where the generation equipment sits within a watercourse (ie there is no diversion of water) then there is no abstraction, and no licence is required.

Water

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gallons of extra water will be needed to supply the 7,000 extra new homes planned in St. Albans; and if she will make a statement on the current level of the water table in the area supplying St. Albans.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency has calculated that an extra 7,000 properties in St. Albans would require 2.46 megalitres or 541,200 gallons per day.
	For June 2005, the groundwater levels around St. Albans were recorded as 71.23 metres Above Ordnance Datum (mAOD), which is close to the June average of 72.70 mAOD. The level is dropping, which is normal for the time of year.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Leader of the House what estimate he has made of the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Office.

Geoff Hoon: My Office has not employed any management consultants during the last three years.

WALES

Older People (Quality of Life)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with relevant Ministers on measures to improve the quality of life for older people in Wales.

Nick Ainger: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including measures to improve the quality of life for older people in Wales.
	I am proud that last month the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill was introduced into the other place and received its Second Reading on 14 June.

Devolution

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the further devolution of legislative powers to Wales.

Peter Hain: The Government's proposals are contained in the White Paper Better Governance for Wales" which I published on 15 June.

Out-of-hours GP Services

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with National Assembly for Wales Secretaries on the cross-border implications of improvements to the out-of-hours GP services available in Wales.

Nick Ainger: I regularly meet with the Health Minister and we discuss a range of health issues.
	Local Health Boards are monitoring the performance of providers and look for continual performance improvement. In addition, the Assembly also undertakes performance monitoring against the agreed quality standards.

Cross-border Health Issues

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Health Secretary on cross-border health issues.

Nick Ainger: I met with the Assembly Health Minister early this month and we discussed a range of health issues.

GDP Levels

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Economic Development on levels of GDP in Wales.

Nick Ainger: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Assembly Government Ministers on various issues of mutual interest, including those relating to Wales' economic performance. Gross Value Added per head in Wales in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, was £12,629 or 79.0 per cent. of the UK average, its highest relative level for five years.

National Assembly (List Members)

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce legislation affecting the position of list members in the National Assembly for Wales.

Peter Hain: In the White Paper the proposal is that a simple amendment should be made to the provisions in section 5 of the Government of Wales Act to prevent constituency candidates standing as list members.

Post Office

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on the future of post offices in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues and the First Minister on a range of issues, including the post office network in Wales.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people are in adult education in each London borough per 1,000 population.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Ms Sarah Teather, dated 14 July 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in which you asked how many people are in adult education in each London borough per 1,000 in population, this has been forwarded to me for a response.
	I enclose a table showing the number of adults who were in some form of education funded by the LSC or by the Higher Education Funding Council in 2003/04 (the most recent figures available). Please note that the table I've enclosed shows the number of people who are resident of one of the London boroughs who are in education either in London or elsewhere. This definition has been chosen as it is the best way to make sense of a proportion based on resident population, in response to your specific request. This is not the same as the number of adults who are accessing learning in an institution within a particular borough.
	Headlines
	Overall, figures show that 15 per cent. of the adult population in London accessed some form of education in Further Education (FE), Adult and Community Learning (ACL) or Higher Education (HE) in 2003–04. Just over half of this provision was in FE, about a third in HE with the remaining one-sixth in ACL.
	In addition, a further 50,000 adults in London accessed learning through Ufl and 3,000 were participating in work based learning.
	The percentages by borough vary from 11 per cent. to 20 per cent. Interestingly, the boroughs with the highest proportions of adults in learning tend to be in the inner London boroughs. More than 18 per cent. of adults in Lambeth, Hackney, Islington, Newham, Waltham Forest, Haringey, Brent and Lewisham were accessing learning in 2003–04.
	
		Number of adult learners by residence of borough
		
			  FE ACL HE Total Population Learners per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 8,644 2,554.00 3,376.00 14,574 118,500 123 
			 Barnet 19,177 2,931.00 14,279.00 36,387 244,500 149 
			 Bexley 10,663 4,978.00 4,974.00 20,615 162,800 127 
			 Brent 19,314 4,455.00 12,020.00 35,789 202,500 177 
			 Bromley 15.667 7,592.00 8,799.00 32,058 226,500 142 
			 Camden 13,896 4,173.00 9,112.00 27,181 166,700 163 
			 City of London 447 213.00 530.00 1,190 7,000 170 
			 Croydon 20,304 6,823.00 10,594.00 37,721 248,000 152 
			 Ealing 16,336 3,442.00 14,745.00 34,523 231,800 149 
			 Enfieid 16,473 1,488.00 9.881.00 27,842 207,800 134 
			 Greenwich 14,610 3,994.00 7,443.00 26,047 165,600 157 
			 Hackney 16,781 3,847.00 8,961.00 29,589 150,300 197 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,553 4,107.00 6,332.00 19,992 139,300 144 
			 Haringey 16,704 3,078.00 10,309.00 30,091 169,100 178 
			 Harrow 12,559 4,324.00 9,198.00 26,081 157,900 165 
			 Havering 13,352 3,376.00 4,488.00 21.216 169,500 125 
			 Hillingdon 11,262 4,461.00 7,335.00 23,058 183,400 126 
			 Hounslow 13,437 4,147.00 7,572.00 25,156 159,200 158 
			 Islington 15,254 2,681.00 8,013.00 25.948 140,300 185 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7,784 2,033.00 5,695.00 15,512 141,400 110 
			 Kingston upon Thames 7,108 6,410.00 5.641.00 19,159 115,100 166 
			 Lambeth 22,933 7,068.00 12,196.00 42,197 207,300 204 
			 Lewisham 17.105 4,804.00 10,518.00 32,427 185,700 175 
			 Merton 9.250 3,690.00 6,694.00 19,634 147,100 133 
			 Newham 18,396 3.231.00 10,029.00 31,656 172,500 184 
			 Redbridge 12,516 4,627.00 9,325.00 26,468 180,700 146 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 10,767 5,109.00 6,655.00 22,531 138,400 163 
			 Southwark 18.379 2,068.00 11,775.00 32,222 192,500 167 
			 Sutton 9,104 649.00 4,774.00 14.527 133,500 109 
			 Tower Hamlets 12,561 4,039.00 6,885.00 23,485 150,400 156 
			 Waltham Forest 16,278 5,147.00 8,521.00 29,946 164,400 182 
			 Wandsworth 14,322 8,375.00 10,589.00 33,286 223,100 149 
			 Westminster, City of 12,563 3,064.00 7,516.00 23,143 182,900 127 
			 Total 453,499 132,978.00 274,774.00 861,251 5,586,100 154 
		
	
	10th June 2005
	Notes:
	Further Education (FE) includes funded and unfunded learners in 2003/04. All resident learners aged 19 and above.
	Adult and Community Learning (ACL) includes all resident learners aged 19 and above during 2003/04.
	Higher Education (HE) includes all resident learners aged 19 and above in 2002/03.
	The population figures relate to the number of adults aged 20 and above and are from the 2003 mid-year estimates.

Apprenticeships

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people she expects will be participating in apprenticeship schemes by the end of August; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Rob Wye to Mr. Jimmy Hood, dated 20 July 2005
	I write on Mark Haysom's behalf, due to him currently being on annual leave, in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which has been referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Phil Hope, regarding how many young people we expect will be participating in apprenticeship schemes by the end of August.
	The exact number participating in Apprenticeships at any one time depends on the number who start and the length of time to complete. As the length of time for completion varies with the apprenticeship framework, the number is affected by the sectoral mix of apprentices recruited.
	The LSC estimates that approximately 274,000 apprentices will be in learning at the end of July 2005. The number is unlikely to change significantly in between the end of July and the end of August.
	To these numbers should be added approximately 1,000, the first cohort of young pre 16 apprentices and approximately 500 on the Apprenticeships for Adult trials.
	I trust this is helpful.

Bullying

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate her Department has made of the number of children in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley schools who have been victims of bullying in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Data on bullying are not collected centrally and there is no reliable basis for an estimate of prevalence in Lancashire and the Ribble Valley. Bullying cases appear to be reported more often now than previously but we have no hard evidence that bullying is increasing or affecting more children. Indeed, as children and young people increasingly feel safe at school to report bullying, and confident that it will be tackled effectively and sensitively, it is likely reporting will rise.
	However, any level of bullying is too high and we are determined to help schools tackle the problem. Our guidance pack Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence", the anti-bullying Charter and the anti-bullying website www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying offer detailed advice on preventing and addressing bullying. We also offer specific advice to schools on tackling homophobic bullying and are developing advice on racist bullying.

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) provides guidance to its employees regarding purchasing and managing external consultancy services. Departmental and Government-wide procurement policy and best practice advice is available to staff via a web-based Intranet site which contains a section on procuring external consultancy. This includes guidance on how to identify and establish the need for consultancy support, how to appoint a consultant, what are the considerations and risks and how to get the best out of a consultancy appointment. In addition to this guidance, the DfES provides a procurement helpline to employees if they wish to obtain specific advice on any aspect of the procurement process.
	The Department promotes Government-wide procurement best practice advice and utilises OGC's web-based product the Successful Delivery Toolkit (www.ogc.gok.uk/sdtoolkit/). The guidance is aimed at public sector organisations and complies with government policy and regulations for procurement but is not specifically tailored to the voluntary sector. The guidance includes the use of consultants covering:
	Purchasing consultancy services, covering the tendering process;
	Use of professional advisers, including consultants;
	Where it may be appropriate to use consultants, for example, in construction or specification writing;
	Examples of specific guides that are relevant to the procurement and supply of consultancy services:
	(i) Delivering world-class consultancy services to the public sector—A statement of best practice;
	(ii) The Government Procurement Code of Good Practice for Customer and Suppliers.

Education Funding

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will make a decision on schools to be awarded the current round of Targeted Capital Funding.

Jacqui Smith: The Targeted Capital Fund applications received from local authorities are currently being assessed against criteria set out in published guidance. I expect to notify local authorities on the outcome of their bids in autumn 2005.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties she hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: All procurement is in line with EU procurement rules and to obtain value for money for the Department. For events and meetings hosted by the Department as part of the UK presidency of the EU, we have aimed to keep costs to a minimum and, where wine is served, we are generally using house wine. This has included an English wine, served at a dinner for EU Education Ministers.
	For events in Brussels, we are working with the Council Secretariat to try to provide British produce (as key ingredients) and drink for EU Council meetings during the UK presidency. For other events, we consider serving English wine subject to availability and value for money.

Enterprise Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the (a) funding and (b) availability of the proposed business schools courses for 12 to 18-year-olds.

Jacqui Smith: The Government have been developing enterprise education via a number of initiatives, such as the enterprise learning pathfinders and the recent enterprise in schools conferences that have been held all over England in the past three months. We are also considering developing plans to enable young people to take part in enterprise summer schools. At this stage, it is too early to give details of the extent of funding and availability of the proposed summer schools.

Film Making

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants her Department has made to film-makers in the past three years; what the object of the films were; and what amounts were given.

Bill Rammell: The Department has made no grants to film-makers in the past three years.

Langland Report

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to receive Sir Alan Langland's report on higher education and access to the professions; and when the Government expect to publish its response to the report.

Bill Rammell: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement that I issued earlier today.

Mathematics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 841W, on mathematics, how many pupils sat for advanced extension awards in mathematics in each year since their introduction.

Jacqui Smith: Advanced extension awards (AEAs) were introduced for advanced level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in summer 2002. The number of students who sat for an AEA in mathematics in each year is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 964 
			 2002–03 1,005 
			 2003–04 992 
		
	
	Figures are those published by the Joint Council for Qualifications in August of each year. They include awards sat by students of all ages in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministerial Meetings/Visits

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many meetings she has had with hon. Members since the general election; and what the purpose of each meeting was.

Bill Rammell: The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has had the following meetings with hon. Members since the general election.
	
		
			 Date Member's name To discuss 
		
		
			 18 May 2005 Jonathan Shaw MP Jonathan Shaw's role as Parliamentary Private Secretary 
			 7 June 2005 Alan Johnson MP Regional Development Agency Chairs, Skills Alliance and upcoming meeting about MG Rover 
			 9 June 2005 Des Browne MP DfES financial issues 
			 16 June 2005 Tessa Jowell MP Positive Activities for Young People, Youth Green Paper 
			 21 June 2005 Tony Blair MP and Alan Johnson MP MG Rover 
			 28 June 2005 Barry Sherman MP Schools issues 
			 28 June 2005 Labour Members of Parliament Schools issues 
			 30 June 2005 Alan Milburn MP Constituency issues 
		
	
	The Secretary of State also holds regular meetings with the hon. Members who are Ministers in her Department.

Ministerial Meetings/Visits

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many constituencies (a) she and (b) her Ministers have visited since the general election; and what the (i) purpose and (ii) duration was of each visit.

Bill Rammell: Ministers from the Department for Education and skills have made the following visits to constituencies since the general election.
	
		
			 Date Constituency Purpose Duration 
			 Ruth Kelly
		
		
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Sure Start Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 13 June 2005 Hackney Visit the Breakfast Club at Millfields Primary School 1 hour 
			 20 June 2005 Lewisham Visit Lewisham Further Education College 1 hour 
			 24 June 2005 Bury Visit Bury Adult Education Centre 30 minutes 
			 25 June 2005 Vauxhall Visit Archbishop Tenison School for Africa Commission Schools Day 45 minutes 
			 30 June 2005 Darlington Visits to McNay Children's Centre; Department for Education and Skills Mowden Hall site; and Darlington Council 2 hour 45 minutes 
			 
			 Jacqui Smith
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Surestart Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 25 May 2005 Banbury Visit to Banbury School 6 hours 30 minutes 
			 26 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Attend an Institute of Public Policy Research event—Future Challenges: Living with Risk" 1 hour 
			 7 June 2005 West Chelmsford Visit to Moulsham High School 7 hours 
			 7 June 2005 Cities of London and Westminster Specialist Schools' Dinner at Mossimann's Restaurant 2 hours 
			 15 June 2005 Cities of London and Westminster Speech at the Joint School Governor Association's Conference 45 minutes 
			 17 June 2005 Crewe and Nantwich Radio 4's Any Questions" 1 hour 30 minutes 
			 20 June 2005 Cities of London and Westminster Speech at the Holocaust Education Trust Dinner 2 hours 
			 23 June 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Visit the National Remodelling Team's offices (who manage change and school workforce restructuring) 1 hour 
			 24 June 2005 Stratford-on-Avon Speech at the regional ceremony for the Teaching Awards 2 hours 
			 
			 Beverley Hughes   
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Sure Start Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 25 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Visit the National Remodelling Team's offices (who manage change and school work force restructuring) 1 hour 
			 2 June 2005 Carlisle Speech at the launch of Sure Start Month 2 hours 
			 8 June 2005 Regent's Park and Kensington North Speech at 4 Children's" Annual Conference 40 minutes 
			 8 June 2005 Cities of London and Westminster Speech at the Daycare Trust's reception as part of the National Childcare Week 1 hour 
			 21 June 2005 Leeds Central Speech at National Day Nurseries Association's Annual Conference 40 minutes 
			 22 June 2005 Blackburn Opening Shadsworth's Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 22 June 2005 Manchester, Gorton Speech at Manchester Education Partnership Conference 45 minutes 
			 28 June 2005 Cities of London and Westminster Speech at 4 Children's" Summer Reception 30 minutes 
			 29 June 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Speech at the joint seminar for the Community and Youth Work and Transports and General Workers Unions 30 minutes 
			 29 June 2005 Cities of London and Westminster Speech at Children Now" Conference 45 minutes 
			 29 June 2005 North Southwark and Bermondsey Speech at Childcare Star" Awards 2 hours 30 minutes 
			 1 July 2005 Bury South Speech at the launch of Bury Children's Services 30 minutes 
			 
			 Phil Hope
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Sure Start Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 8 June 2005 Nottingham South Speech at the National Institute of Adults Continuing Education Conference 45 minutes 
			 16 June 2005 Portsmouth North Opening of the Highbury Northarbour Centre 55 minutes 
			 17 June 2005 Kettering Opening Tresham Further and Higher Education Institute 1 hour 30 minutes 
			 22 June 2005 Tewksbury Speech at the Regional Skills Conference for local skills agencies 45 minutes 
			 24 June 2005 Derby South Speech at the launch of the East Midland's Regional Skills Partnership Prospectus 1 hour 30 minutes 
			 30 June 2005 Pudsey Tour of Hainsworth Factory Education Training Programme for employees 1 hour 10 minutes 
			 30 June 2005 Leeds Central Tour of Pittards Factory with their Union Learning Representatives 1 hour 
			 30 June 2005 City of Durham Visit Low Newton Young Offenders Institute 1 hour 30 minutes 
			 
			 Bill Rammell
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Sure Start Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 7 June 2005 Derby South Speech at the launch of the Centre of Vocational Excellence for Rolls Royce's Learning and Career Development Centre 3 hours 
			 7 June 2005 Derby North Visit Derby University 4 hours 
			 8 June 2005 Stoke-on-Trent Central Visit Stoke-on-Trent College 2 hours 
			 8 June 2005 Newcastle-under-Lyme Speech at Keele University 2 hours 15 minutes 
			 14 June 2005 Islington South and Finsbury Visit Islington College 1 hour 
			 16 June 2005 Brent East Vist College of the North West 1 hour 
			 16 June 2005 Brent South View site of Wembley Stadium; Tour of McVities site 3 hours 
			 20 June 2005 East Ham Visit University of East London 1 hour 
			 21 June 2005 City of York Visit North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council; Opening the new building of the York Higher Education Academy 3 hours 30 minutes 
			 21 June 2005 Vale of York Visit North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership at Archbishop Holgate School 3 hours 30 minutes 
			 5 July 2005 Lancaster and Wyre Visit Lancaster University 1 hour 
			 5 July 2005 Liverpool, Riverside Visit Liverpool University; Speech at National Association of Student Employment Staff Conference 2 hour 40 minutes 
			 6 July 2005 West Lancashire Speech at the Aimhigher (Raising Achievement and Increasing Access to Higher Education) Conference 1 hour 
			 
			 Maria Eagle
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Sure Start Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 
			 Lord Adonis
			 10 May 2005 Holborn and St. Pancras Ministerial Photocall at Sure Start Unit, Thomas Coram Children's Centre 45 minutes 
			 
			 27 May 2005 Tottenham Visit Gladesmore School; Visit Park View Academy 3 hours 
			 9 June 2005 Warwick and Leamington Speech at Church of England Conference; Visit Barford St. Peter's Primary School; Speech at the National Primary School's Association Conference 4 hours 
			 10 June 2005 City of York Visit Westfield Primary School 1 hour 30 minutes 
			 10 June 2005 Vale of York Speech to Academies' Principals' Forum 1 hour 
			 16 June 2005 Regent's Park and Kensington North Visit North Westminster Community College 1 hour 
			 17 June 2005 Camberwell and Peckham Visit to Waverley School 2 hours 30 minutes 
			 17 June 2005 North Southwark and Bermondsey Visit to London City Academy 1 hour 
			 24 June 2005 Vauxhall Tours of Stockwell Primary School; Stockwell Park School 2 hours 
			 1 July 2005 Hammersmith and Fulham Visit William Morris Academy 1 hour 
			 1 July 2005 Acton, Ealing and Shepherds Bush Visits to Jack Tizard Special School; Phoenix High School; Bulington Danes School 2 hours 
			 1 July 2005 Mitcham and Morden Visits to Mitcham Vale School; Tamworth Manor School 1 hour 55 minutes

Pupil Statistics

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills how many children in Hornsey and Wood Green attend school outside the constituency.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested broken down by local education authority has been provided in the following tables.
	
		Pupils residing in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency attending schools within and outside of constituency
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Total number of pupils resident in Hornsey and Wood Green 14,397 100.0 
			 Pupils attending schools in Hornsey and Wood Green 10,776 74.8 
			 Pupils attending schools outside Hornsey and Wood Green 3,621 25.2 
		
	
	Source: PLASC 2005 Provisional data
	
		Pupils residing in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency attending schools by local education authority
		
			 Local education authority Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Haringey 12,008 83.4 
			 Enfield 912 6.3 
			 Barnet 611 4.2 
			 Camden 313 2.2 
			 Islington 287 2.0 
			 Hertfordshire 74 0.5 
			 Hackney 56 0.4 
			 Brent 31 0.2 
			 City of Westminster 29 0.2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 20 0.1 
			 Waltham Forest 16 0.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 9 0.1 
			 Other LEAs 31 0.2 
		
	
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 Provisional data

School Attendance (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children of school age in Milton Keynes are not attending either a state school or an independent school.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Pupils educated otherwise than at school under arrangements made by the local education authority(2): Milton Keynes local education authority and England
		
			 January 2005 
			  Pupils in hospital(3) Other pupils not in school(4) Total pupils not in school 
		
		
			 England 243 16,741 16,984 
			 Milton Keynes local  education authority 0 197 197 
		
	
	(2) Pupils of compulsory school age (5 to 15) as at 31 August 2004.
	(3) Includes non-statemented pupils in hospital excluding pupils in maintained general hospital or special hospital schools.
	(4) Includes other pupils not in school e.g. pupils taught at home, traveller children, asylum seekers at FE colleges or with voluntary sector providers.
	Source:
	8B Survey

School Attendance (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children who live in Milton Keynes attend a school in another local authority; and how many children in each school in Milton Keynes live in another local authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested broken down by local education authority has been provided in the following tables. The information requested at school level has been made available to the House of Commons Library.
	
		The number and percentages of pupils residing in Milton Keynes attending schools in other local authorities by phase of education
		
			  Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
		
		
			 Total number of pupils resident in Milton Keynes 38,325 100.0 
			
			 Local education authority   
			 Milton Keynes 35,896 93.7 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,031 2.7 
			 Bedfordshire 838 2.2 
			 Northamptonshire 513 1.3 
			 Other LEAs 47 0.1 
			
			 Total pupils schooled outside of authority 2,429 6.3 
		
	
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 provisional data
	
		The number and percentages of the school population in Milton Keynes residing in other authorities
		
			  Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
		
		
			 Pupils attending schools in Milton Keynes 36,337 100 
			
			 Home authority   
			 Milton Keynes 35,896 98.8 
			 Northamptonshire 153 0.4 
			 Buckinghamshire 138 0.4 
			 Bedfordshire 53 0.1 
			 Other LEAs 8 (5)— 
			 Unknown/not given(6) 89 0.2 
			
			 Total residing outside of authority 441 1.2 
		
	
	(5) Denotes percentage of less than 0.05 per cent.
	(6) Residence of pupil unknown/not given.
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 provisional data

School Meals

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to encourage all schools to show all existing and all new pupils the clip from Jamie Oliver's programme Jamie's School Dinners", where a group of pupils were given a demonstration of how processed chicken nuggets are made.

Jacqui Smith: Food education in both primary and secondary school teaches children about the importance of healthy eating. They learn about where food comes from and how it is processed through food technology, science and PSHE. They also learn about diet, nutrition, food safety and hygiene, practical food preparation and cooking.
	The DfES does not specify educational resources or how subjects should be taught. Individual teachers use their professional judgement to select the resources that are most appropriate to the needs of their pupils, but TV clips such as this would certainly be a useful and engaging opportunity.

School Meals

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills how many school children in Hornsey and Wood Green (a) receive free school mealsand (b) pay for schools meals, broken down by school.

Jacqui Smith: Information on pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is shown in the table. The number of pupils paying for school meals is not collected centrally.
	
		All schools: school meal arrangementsJanuary 2005 (provisional) -- Each school in Hornsey and Wood Green parliamentary constituency
		
			  Number on roll(7) Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals(7) Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 Haringey Pupil Referral Unit 108 108 100.0 
			 Alexandra Primary School 210 116 55.2 
			 Bounds Green Infant School 280 70 25.0 
			 Bounds Green Junior School 240 93 38.8 
			 Campsbourne Infant School 190 59 31.1 
			 Campsbourne Junior School 209 75 35.9 
			 Coldfall Primary School 458 65 14.2 
			 Coleridge Primary School 478 37 7.7 
			 Earlham Primary School 419 239 57.0 
			 Highgate Primary School 380 78 20.5 
			 Lordship Lane Primary School 716 348 48.6 
			 Muswell Hill Primary School 420 47 11.2 
			 Nightingale Primary School 465 202 43.4 
			 Our Lady of Muswell RC Primary School 415 21 5.1 
			 Rhodes Avenue Primary School 473 20 4.2 
			 Rokesly Infant School 319 52 16.3 
			 Rokesly Junior School 309 71 23.0 
			 St. Aidan's Voluntary Controlled Primary School 249 35 14.1 
			 St. Gildas' RC Junior School 213 50 23.5 
			 St. James' CofE Primary School 236 4 1.7 
			 St. Martin of Porres RC Primary School 243 15 6.2 
			 St. Mary's CofE Infant School 233 41 17.6 
			 St. Mary's CofE Junior School 218 49 22.5 
			 St. Michael's CofE Primary School 202 57 28.2 
			 St. Michael's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 464 25 5.4 
			 St. Paul's RC Primary School 206 80 38.8 
			 St. Peter-in-Chains RC Infant School 162 28 17.3 
			 Stroud Green Primary School 368 140 38.0 
			 Tetherdown Primary School 214 1 0.5 
			 Weston Park Primary School 280 59 21.1 
			 Alexandra Park School 966 249 25.8 
			 Fortismere School 1,612 170 10.5 
			 Highgate Wood Secondary School 1,309 322 24.6 
			 Hornsey School for Girls 1,451 473 32.6 
			 St Thomas More RC School 1,163 353 30.4 
			 White Hart Lane Secondary School 1,136 645 56.8 
			 Greig City Academy, Haringey 712 315 44.2 
			 Blanche Nevile School 70 23 32.9 
		
	
	(7) Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

School Meals

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school children in Sheffield, Hallam are eligible for free school meals; and what the take-up was in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools: school meal arrangements, Sheffield, Hallam parliamentary constituency
		
			  Primary(8) 
			 Position as at January each year Number on roll(10)(5508070011) Number of pupils taking free school meals Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 1997 5,420 390 7.1 470 8.7 
			 1998 5,420 330 6.2 410 7.6 
			 1999 5,430 280 5.1 360 6.7 
			 2000 5,500 260 4.7 320 5.9 
			 2001 5,500 210 3.8 290 5.2 
			 2002 5,690 260 4.5 310 5.5 
			 2003 5,760 220 3.8 280 4.8 
			 2004 5,800 230 3.9 310 5.3 
			 2005(14) 5,720 220 3.8 270 4.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Secondary(8) 
			 Position as at January each year Number on roll(10)(5508070011) Number of pupils taking free school meals Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 1997 8,410 780 9.3 1,220 14.5 
			 1998 8,580 790 9.2 1,170 13.6 
			 1999 8,580 810 9.4 1,090 12.6 
			 2000 8,690 820 9.4 1,070 12.2 
			 2001 8,810 800 9.0 1,070 12.2 
			 2002 9,000 730 8.1 1,060 11.7 
			 2003 9,070 770 8.5 1,050 11.5 
			 2004 9,170 800 8.7 1,050 11.4 
			 2005(14) 9,200 650 7.1 980 10.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Special(9) 
			 Position as at January each year Number on roll(12)(5508070013) Number of pupils taking free school meals Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 1997 160 110 69.9 150 90.8 
			 1998 180 80 47.5 110 59.3 
			 1999 150 60 41.6 70 46.8 
			 2000 160 60 38.5 70 45.5 
			 2001 150 50 34.2 70 44.5 
			 2002 150 50 31.6 50 31.6 
			 2003 200 70 34.9 70 37.4 
			 2004 210 60 28.1 70 33.8 
			 2005(14) 220 60 27.6 80 35.0 
		
	
	(8) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(9) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(10) 1997 to 2002 exclude dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.
	(11) From 2003 includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.
	(12) 1997 to 2002 exclude boarding pupils.
	(13) From 2003 includes boarding pupils.
	(14) Provisional.
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Schools (Violence)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of school staff who have been victims of physical violence from students in (a) London and (b) England since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Information on major injuries and injuries to workers involving more than three days absence is collected by the Health and Safety Executive. The available information is shown in the following tables. Prior to 2001 it was not possible to identify the type of assailant or to identify school staff accurately.
	
		Injuries to school staff(15) by pupils(16) in London
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Non-fatal major injury 1 7 
			 Over-three-day injury 25 27 
			 All reported injuries 26 34 
		
	
	
		Injuries to school staff(15) by pupils(16) in England
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Non-fatal major injury 27 55 
			 Over-three-day injury 178 217 
			 All reported injuries 205 272 
		
	
	(15) The following Standard Occupational Classifications were used to identify school staff; educational assistants, primary and nursery education teaching professionals, school mid-day assistants, school secretaries, secondary education teaching professionals, special needs education teaching professionals, teaching professionals not classified elsewhere.
	(16) There are no specific categories in HSE's coding framework that identify students/pupils as types of assailant. In this instance, students/pupils are identified on HSE systems by a combination of agent classifications: persons receiving service" and persons receiving care". However, other individuals may be included in these categories.

Secondary Education (Wellingborough and Rushden)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on secondary education in Wellingborough and Rushden.

Jacqui Smith: The Department's Strategy for Children and Learners sets out a range of departmental policies and initiatives which will raise the quality of education, teaching and learning in the Wellingborough and Rushden area and across the country over the next five years.
	For 2004/05, this Government have allocated an extra £870 per pupil in real terms to Northamptonshire local education authority since 1997/98, an increase of 32 per cent. Capital resources allocated to Northamptonshire LEA and its schools have increased from £8.5 million in 1997–98 to over £25 million in 2005–06.
	Results in Wellingborough and Rushden are largely comparative to Northamptonshire averages. There has been significant improvement in East Northants in English and maths at KS3 and steady improvement at KS4. There is one school in the area, the Weavers School, which is in receipt of the Leadership Incentive Grant and has received additional partnership funding.
	The LSC, Connexions and the local authority are working in partnership to improve 14–19 provision and standards in Northamptonshire. Each district partnership (including Wellingborough and East Northants) have been given funding to support area plans.

Student Finance

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will establish a commission to examine the funding of undergraduate education and different schemes for the repayment of graduate contributions.

Bill Rammell: As the former Secretary of State announced in Parliament on 26 January 2004, an independent commission will be established to review the new arrangements for variable tuition fees, based on the first three years operation of the policy, which comes into effect from the 2006/07 academic year. The commission will examine the impact of the arrangements on higher education institutions, and on students and prospective students; and future policy.

Synthetic Phonics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 1026W, on Synthetic Phonics, whether she is in a position to announce the names of the people who will work alongside Mr. Jim Rose in conducting the review.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron) on 18 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1404–05W.

Teachers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate her Department has made of the number of school staff who have been victims of physical abuse from students in (a) Ribble Valley and (b) Lancashire schools in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Information on major injuries and injuries to workers involving more than three days absence is collected by the Health and Safety Executive. Under this definition there were no reported physical assaults on school staff by students in Ribble Valley Constituency in 2002/03 or 2003/04. The available information for Lancashire is shown in the table. Prior to 2002/03 it was not possible to identify the type of assailant.
	
		Reported injuries(17) to school staff(18) by pupils(19) in Lancashire
		
			  Non-fatal major injury Over-3-day injury All reported injuries 
		
		
			 2002/03 1 6 7 
			 2003/04 7 11 18 
		
	
	(17) The HSE estimates that in recent years the reporting rate for all injuries involving more than three days absence in the education sector was around 32 per cent.
	(18) The following Standard Occupational Classifications were used to identify school staff; Educational assistants, Primary and nursery education teaching professionals, School mid-day assistants, School secretaries, Secondary education teaching professionals, Special needs education teaching professionals, Teaching professionals not classified elsewhere.
	(19) There are no specific categories in HSE's coding framework that identify students/pupils as types of assailant. In this instance, students/pupils are identified on HSE systems by a combination of agent classifications: 'persons receiving service' and 'persons receiving care'. However, other individuals may be included in these categories.

Teachers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1634–5W, on teacher recruitment, what proportion of teachers were recruited to teach (a) science, (b) mathematics and (c) modern foreign languages on a (i) part-time and (ii) full-time basis in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the proportion of newly qualified teachers in science, mathematics and modern foreign languages entering maintained secondary school service on a part-time and a full-time basis in each year between 1993–94 and 2002–03, the latest information available.
	
		Percentage of newly qualified teachers(20) in science, mathematics and modern foreign languages entering part-time and full-time maintained secondary service in each year, 1993–94 to 2002–03
		
			  Science Maths Modern foreign languages 
			  Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time 
		
		
			 1993–94 5 95 4 96 6 94 
			 1994–95 4 96 4 96 5 95 
			 1995–96 7 93 7 93 7 93 
			 1996–97 7 93 5 95 6 94 
			 1997–98 5 95 3 97 6 94 
			 1998–99 4 96 3 97 7 93 
			 1999–2000 4 96 3 97 5 95 
			 2000–01 3 97 3 97 4 96 
			 2001–02 3 97 3 97 4 96 
			 2002–03(21) 2 98 3 97 3 97 
		
	
	(20) Includes those gaining qualified teacher status and going straight into teaching.
	2 Provisional
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records.

Teachers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have been employed in Ribble Valley schools in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The following table gives the full-time equivalent number of teachers in service in Ribble Valley constituency in each January between 2001 and 2005.
	
		Full-time equivalent teachers in Ribble Valley constituency
		
			  Total teachers 
		
		
			 2001 860 
			 2002 880 
			 2003 890 
			 2004 890 
			 2005(21) 900 
		
	
	(21) Provisional.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual School Census.

Youth Training

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation arrangements are in place to assess the (a) quality and (b) effectiveness of the alternative provision available to young people unable to secure a place on the Entry to Employment programme.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1049W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Coal Mines

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal mines closed in each financial year since 1975.

Malcolm Wicks: Annual figures for the period 1975–80 are not readily available. Data readily to hand show the total for this period and the number of larger deep mine closures in each year since 1980 to be as set out in the table:
	
		
			 Period Collieries closed 
		
		
			 1975–1980 27 
			 1980–81 9 
			 1981–82 12 
			 1982–83 6 
			 1983–84 15 
			 1984–85 1 
			 1985–86 27 
			 1986–87 15 
			 1987–88 14 
			 1988–89 6 
			 1989–90 11 
			 1990–91 9 
			 1991–92 15 
			 1992–93 0 
			 1993–94 31 
			 1994–95 1 
			 1996 4 
			 1997 0 
			 1998 2 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 2 
			 2004 3 
			 2005 1

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consultants were employed by his Department in each of the last three years; and what their names were.

Alan Johnson: Central records indicate that 1,421 consultancy companies were engaged in the financial year 2004–05. I have placed a list of these companies in the Libraries of the House. In addition the Department engaged 687 individual consultants in the financial year 2004–05. Information for further financial years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon dated 10 December 2004 regarding Carnaby Kitchens.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The letter from the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was misplaced. It has now been relocated and I will ensure that you receive a response shortly. I apologise for the delay in dealing with your constituent's concerns.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to revise the legislative position on controls on arms brokering to ensure that UK citizens are unable to exploit a legal loophole in order to profit from the sales of arms to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do not accept that any such loophole exists. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is subject to an EU arms embargo and as such the UK's controls on overseas trade in military equipment to the DRC are fully extraterritorial, applying to persons in the UK and UK persons anywhere in the world, including those whose sole involvement in the transaction is, for example, advertising, transport, or finance.

Departmental Officials

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Range 3 officials in his Department progressed to Range 4 in each of the last four years for which figures are available, broken down by directive; and what the requirements are for a Range 3 official in his Department to progress to Range 4.

Alan Johnson: The number of Range 3 officials in my Department progressed to Range 4 in each of the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 63 
			 2002–03 89 
			 2003–04 38 
			 2004–05 42 
		
	
	The entry requirements for Range 3 and Range 4 officials in my Department are:
	A minimum of 5 GCSE grade C passes or above including English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications, or NVQ Business Administration level 2 or an equivalent NVQ level 2 with relevance to office work and containing an assessment or examination in English language, or at least three years' work experience in a comparable position.
	The job specific requirements for Range 3 officials to be progressed to Range 4 are set out in departmental vacancy notices advertising each post. However, in general, Range 3 officials would need to be able to demonstrate some or all of the following skills to be considered for progression to Range 4:
	Ability to manage workload
	Good written and oral communication skills
	Ability to work with others and build relationships
	Drive and commitment
	Basic IT skills.
	The number of Range 3 officials progressed to Range 4 broken down by Group in each of the last 3 years are as follows:
	
		
			 Group 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Innovation 5 1 3 
			 Services 27 7 27 
			 Business 12 5 2 
			 Energy 8 6 2 
			 Fair Markets 24 10 4 
			 Legal Services 3 3 2 
			 Strategy Unit 1 1 — 
			 UK Trade and Investment 5 2 2 
			 Office of Science and Technology 4 1 — 
			 Office of Manpower Economics — 2 — 
			 Totals 89 38 42

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Alun Michael: I have placed information for the core Department, the Small Business Service and Employment Tribunals Service in the Libraries of the House.
	I have asked the Chief Executives of DTI's other Executive Agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Chris Grayling, dated 20 July 2005
	I am responding to your recent parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	Companies House has purchased goods or services of a total value above £l million from the following companies in each of the last three financial years.
	
		2002–03
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Computacenter Ltd. 4,665,289 
			 The Lewis Group Plc 1,966,534 
			 O R Telematique 1,656,051 
			 HBS Group Ltd. 4,174,286 
			 HEDRA Consortium 2,624,927 
			 Vertex Data Science Ltd. 2,168,250 
			 Logica UK Ltd. 2,591,689 
		
	
	
		2003–04
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Computacenter Ltd. 2,723,346 
			 The Lewis Group Plc 2,164,421 
			 O R Telematique 1,905,689 
			 HBS Group Ltd. 4,588,798 
			 Vertex Data Science Ltd. 2,239,575 
			 Logica UK Ltd. 2,441,669 
		
	
	
		2004–05
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Computacenter Ltd. 2,856,698 
			 The Lewis Group Plc 2,113,639 
			 O R Telematique 1,831,112 
			 HBS Group Ltd. 4,750,339 
			 Vertex Data Science Ltd. 2,370,538 
			 Logica UK Ltd. 1,175,000 
			 ServiceTec Ltd. 1,446,361 
		
	
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Chris Grayling, dated 20 July 2005
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 11 July 2005, concerning the purchase of goods and services from companies with a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years, and how much was spent in respect of each company.
	A nil return is appropriate for the Patent Office.
	Letter from Dr. Jeff Llewellyn to Mr. Chris Grayling, dated 20 July 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding the list of companies from which NWML has purchased goods and services of a value of above £1 million, in each of the last three years.
	NWML over the last three years has not purchased goods and services of a total value of above £1 million.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Chris Grayling, dated 20th July 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (706/2005) asking for a list of the companies from which the Agency has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.
	A table is attached to this letter showing the information you have requested.
	
		Over the last three years The Insolvency Service has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million from the following companies:
		
			 £000 
			 Company Name 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Argles, Stoneham, Burstows — 1,502 1,422 
			 B and HS Management Ltd. 1,525 — — 
			 Brindley, Twist 1,070 — — 
			 Taft and James
			 Capital and Regional Property Mgt 1,608 — — 
			 Cobbetts Solicitors 1,041 — — 
			 Dickinsons, Dees Solicitors 1,335 1,321 1,843 
			 Fujitsu Services 5,599 7,738 7,675 
			 Hays Office Support — — 2,460 
			 Howes Percival 2,069 1,892 1,431 
			 Indigo Selection 4,700 4,005 4,555 
			 London Borough of Camden 1,328 — — 
			 Michael K. Howard Ltd. — — 2,886 
			 Prudential Property Investment Mgt Ltd. 1,410 2,717 3,410 
			 R.J Lewis Group 1,038 — — 
			 The Mall Corporation Ltd. — 1,650 2,020 
			 The Stationery Office — — 1,322 
			 Wragge and Co. 2,058 1,068 1,529

Discrimination Law Review

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the remit and timetable of the Discrimination Law Review.

Meg Munn: The Discrimination Law Review is tasked to review the effectiveness of Great Britain's equality legislation, with a view to making recommendations for creating a clearer and more streamlined equality legislation framework, aimed at producing better outcomes for those who experience disadvantage. The full terms of reference for the Review were placed in the Libraries of the House on 13 June 2005. The Review has begun work alongside the current independent Equalities Review which will report to the Prime Minister in 2006. Both the Equalities Review and the Discrimination Law Review will inform proposals for a Single Equality Bill which the Government have made a manifesto commitment to introduce in the lifetime of this Parliament.

Electricity Generation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity generated to meet demand was contributed by each mode of generation in the last period for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The 2004 figures, to be published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2005 at the end of this month, show that 40 per cent. of the electricity supplied in the United Kingdom was from gas, 33 per cent. from coal, 19 per cent. from nuclear, 1 per cent. from hydro, 2½ per cent. from other renewables (such as wind, wave, solar and biomass), 1 per cent. from oil, 2½ per cent. from imported electricity, and 1 per cent. from other fuels (such as coke oven gas, blast furnace gas and waste products from chemical processes).

Export Control Organisation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account he took of the report of ASE management consultants on the privatisation of the Export Control Organisation in determining whether to privatise it.

Malcolm Wicks: The report has been fully taken into account as part of my consideration of the future of the Export Control Organisation.

Export Control Organisation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the Export Control Organisation.

Malcolm Wicks: I expect to do so shortly.

Fuel Poverty

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the findings of the Peer Review on the methodology for calculating fuel poverty figures for England.

Malcolm Wicks: The Peer Review into the fuel poverty methodology for England is expected to be published on 21 July 2005.

Home Workers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance is given to staff in his Department who wish to work from home, broken down by grade.

Alan Johnson: The Department introduced a flexible working policy including full guidance for managers and staff to ensure that new ways of working, including homeworking, are available to all individuals and the benefits to stakeholders, customers, managers and staff are maximised.
	The Department supports a variety of homeworking options for staff: these include formal homeworking on a permanent basis, or part of the week on a regular basis or working at home on an ad hoc basis. Our staff survey shows that 78 per cent. of staff state that their managers allow working patterns including working at home to help them balance work and home life. Staff who work at home part of the week on a regular basis may have a local agreement to provide them with IT equipment.
	Many flexible working patterns, including working from home, are negotiated locally and it is not possible to break down data by grade.

Industry and Parliament Trust

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total public sector financial support was for the Industry and Parliament Trust in each year from 2001–02 to 2006–07; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The Department has not provided financial support to the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) in any of the years specified and does not expect to do so.

International Trade Advisers

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average salary was of International Trade Advisers employed by the regional development authorities in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: International Trade Advisers are funded by UK Trade and Investment to deliver trade development services to business. They are employed by local providers of business support services, mostly Business Link Operators. As UK Trade and Investment is not the employer, no average salary figure is readily available. UK Trade and Investment is providing funding of £15.4 million to the local service providers in the 2005–06 financial year to cover the cost of an advice network of 282 advisers, including both adviser salaries and overheads.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to promote the uptake of liquid petroleum gas (a) in petrol stations and (b) among consumers.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department's LPG Boost project, that ended in March 2005, raised the awareness with consumers of the use of LPG.
	The Government also continue to support alternative fuels, including LPG, through fuel duty incentives as set out in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's alternative fuels framework, published in the 2003 pre-Budget report.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petrol stations in England sell liquid petroleum gas.

Malcolm Wicks: The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA) informed the Department that there are currently 1,274 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling stations in the UK, of which 669 are at petrol filling stations.

Manufacturing

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent to which UK manufacturing job losses can be prevented through better regulation.

Barry Gardiner: The Government have a radical programme aimed at reducing costs to manufacturing and other businesses of complying with regulation. Reduced regulatory burdens will free up business resources to focus on growth and competitiveness—both drivers of job creation.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many claims for vibration white finger have been submitted in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) the United Kingdom registered as being under the UDM/Vendside scheme for miners compensation by (i) Moss Solicitors, (ii) Brm solicitors, (iii) Beresfords solicitors, (iv) AMS Law solicitors, (v) Wake Smith Solicitors and (vi) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers;
	(2)  how many claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been submitted in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) the United Kingdom registered as being under the UDM/Vendside scheme for miners compensation by (i) Moss Solicitors, (ii) Brm solicitors, (iii) Beresfords solicitors, (iv) AMS Law solicitors, (v) Wake Smith Solicitors and (vi) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers;
	(3)  how many deceased claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger have been submitted in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) the United Kingdom registered as being under the UDM/Vendside scheme for miners compensation by (i) Moss Solicitors, (ii) Brm solicitors, (iii) Beresfords solicitors, (iv) AMS Law solicitors, (v) Wake Smith Solicitors and (vi) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers;
	(4)  how many claims for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) vibration white finger have been submitted in (i) Bassetlaw and (ii) the United Kingdom registered as being under the Union of Democratic Mineworkers/Vendside scheme for miners' compensation by solicitors.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Following my request to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers for a list of all the claims they and their client solicitors have submitted, the Department's claims handlers, Capita, are undertaking a check against their own records. Until this exercise has been completed, the Department is unable to provide the requested information.

Miners' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 11 July to Question reference 9089, which Ministers agreed that the Department would negotiate the strategy with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers and Vendside; on what dates; what reports Ministers received on the progress of negotiations; and on what dates Ministers agreed to the terms of the final outcome of the negotiations.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 July 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (John Battle) agreed that the Department would negotiate the strategy for handling claims submitted by the Union of Democratic Mineworkers in December 1998. The proposed terms of the arrangements were put to Ministers on completion of the negotiations. In January 1999, my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West agreed the terms of the vibration white finger handling arrangements. In November 1999, the then Energy Minister, agreed the handling arrangements for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many deceased claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from (a) Beresfords solicitors and (b) all solicitors have been rejected or withdrawn.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Of 15,151 deceased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims settled by denial or withdrawal, Beresfords solicitors are registered as the claimant's representatives in 2,333.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Union of Democratic Mineworkers has been paid in fees for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims and (b) deceased COPD claims.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The UDM/Vendside has been paid £16.3 million in fees for COPD claims of which £1.9 million relates to deceased COPD claims.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) deceased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims and (b) total COPD claims have been registered by the Union of Democratic Mineworkers.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The UDM has been registered as claimant's representative for 16,678 COPD claims of which 1,589 are deceased COPD claims.

Miners' Pensions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the European Directive on Investment on the Department's role in relation to the (a) Miners' Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The schemes are exempt from many of the requirements of Directive 2003/41/EC on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision by virtue of their Crown guarantee; but changes to scheme provisions were necessary to reflect the requirement that member states may not subject Trustees' investment decisions to any form of systematic notification or prior consent.

Miners' Pensions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current value of the Investment Reserve Fund in the (a) Miners' Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme is.

Malcolm Wicks: The current values of the Investment Reserve Funds (at 31 March 2005) in respect of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme are, respectively, £487 million and £940 million.

Newspapers and Magazines (Distribution)

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in promoting agreement between retailers and publishers with regard to the future distribution of newspapers and magazines.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is for the companies concerned to make decisions about what distribution arrangements they put in place for their products while ensuring those arrangements comply with the law.
	Following a request from certain newspaper and magazine publishers, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has considered whether arrangements for distribution of newspapers and magazines are likely to be compatible with competition law after 1 May 2005. OFT published a draft advisory opinion on 19 May and invited written comments by 17 June. I understand OFT has received representations from all parts of the newspaper and magazine supply chain. I am pleased interested parties are trying to arrange satisfactory solutions. OFT is currently considering all representations.

Non-agricultural Market Access

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations.

Ian Pearson: The UK Government objective in the Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations of the Doha Development Agenda is for significantly improved real access to markets (except those of LDCs and other weak and vulnerable countries) for all WTO members. The European Commission leads for the European Union in these negotiations.

Nuclear Power

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of nuclear power stations; what proportion of electricity carried across the National Grid is generated by nuclear power; and if he will make a statement on the future of nuclear power in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: Existing nuclear power stations are expected to continue in operation for some years, in one case, Sizewell B, up to the 2030s.
	Our policy on possible new nuclear power stations remains as set out in the 2003 Energy White Paper. The Government has no specific proposals but does not rule out the nuclear option.
	The most recent figure for the proportion of electricity supplied by nuclear power plants is given in the Energy Trends March 2005 which states that in 2004 19 per cent. of electricity was supplied.

Ofgem (Social Action Plan)

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response he will make to the conclusions on prepayment meter users in the Public Accounts Committee's recent report on Ofgem's Social Action Plan.

Malcolm Wicks: It is for Ofgem to respond to the Committee's conclusions and recommendations.

Regional Development Agencies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what offices regional development agencies have outside the UK; and what the cost of each was in the last year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The Regional Development Agencies have offices in different countries. The following table gives details of their location by country and the cost associated with those offices.
	
		£000
		
			 Country Advantage West Midlands East of England Development Agency East Midlands Development Agency North West Development Agency One North East South East England Development Agency South West of England Development Agency Yorkshire Forward 
		
		
			 Australia 58 — — (22)50 (22)55 50 67 (22)45 
			 Belgium 110 (23)59 176 (24)61 — — — — 
			 Canada 35 — (28)— — — — — — 
			 China — (25)20 — — 79 28 50 178 
			 France 109 — — — — — — — 
			 Germany 101 — — — — 69 — — 
			 India 78 — — — — — — — 
			 Japan 119 — — (22)195 (22)203 (26)73 340 (22)182 
			 Korea — — — — 75 41 — — 
			 North America 596 (27)200 (28)368 (22)370 (22)370 431 149 (22)352 
			 Singapore 127 — — — — — — — 
			 Sweden 118 — — — — — — — 
		
	
	(22) Collaboration between North West Development Agency, One North East and Yorkshire Forward.
	(23) Contribution towards East of England Office (other partners include all local authorities, Government Office-East, Regional Learning and Skills Council, Norfolk Constabulary and Anglia Polytechnic University (Business School).
	(24) Partnership with North West Regional Assembly.
	(25) Contribution towards Essex county council office in Jiangsu Province, China.
	(26) Cost of offices in Osaka and Yokohama.
	(27) Joint office with East of England International.
	(28) There are offices in both countries, but expenses are paid centrally and cannot be separately identified.
	The London Development Agency do not have any offices outside the UK.

Rental Costs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was paid by his Department in rent on (a) 1 Victoria Street, (b) 10 Victoria Street, (c) Kingsgate House and (d) 151 Buckingham Palace Road in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how much he expects to pay in each of the next five years.

Alan Johnson: The rents paid (ex VAT where payable) for the last ten years are:
	£6.5 million per annum to January 2001, £7.75 million to March 2005
	£2.5 million per annum to February 2002, £3.0 million to March 2005
	£3.7 million per annum. to March 2002, £6.2 million to March 2005
	£7.75 million per annum to March 2004, £8.5 million to March 2005.
	An estimate of future costs cannot be given either because of forthcoming rent reviews or because the level of future occupation is under review.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: These figures contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based. The most recent of which (for calendar year 2003) was announced by Ministerial Statement on 1 November and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are also available in the Libraries and on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/conditions_of_service/caje/publications/index.asp#sickness
	The DTI takes the management of sickness absence very seriously and is tightening up procedures for reporting and improving data collection and handling absences, including coaching managers on dealing with specific cases. Recommendations from the Managing Attendance in the Public Sector" report are being considered and implemented as appropriate.

Small Arms Exports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small arms were exported by G8 countries to (a) Sudan, (b) Uganda, (c) Democratic Republic of Congo, (d) Zimbabwe, (e) Ivory Coast, (f) Liberia, (g) Ethiopia, (h) Eritrea and (i) Somalia in the last 10 years for which records are available.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available because the system of classification used to record trade does not separately identify small arms.

Spam Emails

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost of spam emails to UK business in the last period for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: I understand that according to one industry source, the average time spent managing spam is 10 minutes per employee per day. The Government have not made an estimate of the quantity or cost of spam e-mails sent to UK businesses.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the special advisers to his Department; what the area of expertise of each is; and what the employment cost of special advisers was in 2004–05.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to you on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

UK Trade and Investment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will reverse the decision to reduce the expenditure UK Trade and Investment allocates to export development; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: As with the rest of Government, UKTI has to work within the resources allocated to it by the 2004 Spending Review and the conditions attached to that settlement.

Vehicle Statistics

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) cars, (b) vans, (c) trucks and (d) bus and coaches were built in the UK in each of the last three years; and how many people are employed in the automotive industry.

Alun Michael: UK vehicle production, and automotive industry employment for the last three years was as follows.
	
		
			  Cars Vans Trucks Bus and coach Employment 
		
		
			 2002 1,629,744 175,426 15,569 2,089 243,000 
			 2003 1,657,558 172,955 14,179 1,737 237,000 
			 2004 1,646,750 191,773 16,104 1,291 (29)235,000 
		
	
	(29) 2004 employment has been estimated as 2004 ABI data are published in December 2005.
	Notes:
	1. Car manufacturing data have been sourced from Office of National Statistics.
	2. Commercial vehicle data have been sourced from SMMT as ONS do not provide a breakdown by type of vehicle.
	3. Employment data have been sourced from the ONS Annual Business Inquiry, and include vehicle, engine, body and component manufacture, auto electrical equipment, and tyres.

Wind Farms

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications have been made to his Department in connection with the proposed development of the Gwynt y Mor wind farm off the coast of North Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: There have been no applications for development consent for the proposed Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm.

Wind Farms

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the relative efficiency of each mode of electricity generation.

Malcolm Wicks: Data on the average thermal efficiencies and load factors of large generators by fuel type are published in table 5.10 of the DTI's Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics"
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/dukes/dukes2004/index.shtml
	However, the technical and economic efficiency of generators have been a commercial matter for generating companies since industry privatisation in 1990–91.

Wind Farms

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many wind farms are in operation in Scotland; what plans there are to build more wind farms in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: There are currently 27 wind farms operating in Scotland, and I am delighted to say that I will be opening the 28th at Artfield Fell, Stranraer later this month.
	The question of plans for further wind farm developments in Scotland is a devolved matter and therefore any inquiries along these lines should be directed to the Scottish Executive.

World Trade Organisation

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations at Doha.

Ian Pearson: The Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations are part of the Doha Development Agenda trade round on which the European Commission leads for the European Union. Negotiations are on-going.

World Trade Organisation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from and when he next plans to meet UK and foreign business representatives regarding the Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations at the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I meet business representatives on a regular basis and discuss a wide range of issues with them, including, where appropriate the Non-Agricultural Market Access regulations.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Institutionalised Sexism

Colin Challen: To ask the Minister for Women what guidance her Department has recently issued to organisations in the public sector on combating institutionalised sexism.

Meg Munn: I have issued no such guidance recently.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Mail Services

Frank Doran: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the provision of parliamentary mail services.

Nick Harvey: The sorting of incoming Parliamentary mail, its preparation for delivery or forwarding, and collection and despatch of outward mail, have been provided by Royal Mail to both Houses for many years on an informal contractual basis, subject to annual revision in line with rising costs. In 2004 it was decided that, in order to comply with EU procurement rules and to ensure value for money, these mail services would be the subject of a full tender exercise. Following the placing of an advertisement in the Official Journal, and the drafting of a full specification, four companies, including Royal Mail, were invited to tender. The award of the contract to Royal Mail, subject to agreement of detailed contractual terms, is being announced today to the parties concerned. It will run for three years from August 2005. Costs for the service are expected to be between £1 million and £1.5 million a year.
	The new contract will provide for a significantly enhanced service to Parliament. More mail will be delivered to offices first thing in the morning; the 7pm collection will apply to all post boxes on the estate; forwarding will be more efficiently handled off-site; and there will be a rigorous and robust set of service standards, with regular service reviews and customer input. The price will be reviewed in line with RPI over years two and three of the contract.
	This contract is quite separate from that for off-site screening of incoming mail, which will from August 2005 be carried out by Pitney Bowes under a separate contract let in 2004, and the provision by post office counters of postal services at its three outlets on the estate.

DEFENCE

Airlift Capacity

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what type of aircraft (a) constitute the airlift capacity and (b) are planned to constitute the airlift capacity in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2015; and what tonnage this (A) comprises and (B) is planned to comprise in each year.

Adam Ingram: The following table provides details of our current planning assumptions for airlift capability in 2010 and 2015:
	
		
			  2010 2015 
			  Number of aircraft Maximum capacity (tonnes) for fleet Number of aircraft Maximum capacity (tonnes) for fleet 
		
		
			 C-130K 14 280 0 0 
			 C-130J 25 425 25 425 
			 A400M 4 128 25 800 
			 C-17 4 300 5 375 
			 Total 47 1,133 55 1,600

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme as it applies to servicemen and women who have experienced hearing loss.

Don Touhig: I have recently replied to a letter from Dr. John Low, Chief Executive of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) and the Department has also responded to a letter from Mr. Chris Underwood who is the RNID's Campaign Manager. Both raised concerns about the 50dB threshold used to determine eligibility for awards under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme where bilateral noise induced sensorineural hearing loss has resulted from military service. I have offered to meet Dr. Low to discuss his concerns.

Cadets

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) state schools and (b) independent schools have (i) army, (ii) sea and (iii) air cadets.

Don Touhig: Army cadet detachments are found in 52 state schools and 199 independent schools.
	Royal Naval detachments are found in nine state schools and 110 independent schools.
	RAF detachments are found in 39 state schools and 155 independent schools.
	In general, all Combined Cadet Force contingents begin by providing Army detachments, and subsequently providing detachments of the other armed forces, should there be a requirement, when the contingent is well established.

Counter-insurgency Strategy

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what lessons he has drawn from past counter-insurgency campaigns overseas on the effects of announcing in advance timetables for the withdrawal of forces.

John Reid: The Government seek to apply lessons learned from past campaigns wherever possible, including through the Ministry of Defence's operational audit process. In particular, we believe that the United Kingdom force levels in all operations, including those with a counter-insurgency dimension, should be a function of the operational requirement for forces, not of artificial timetables.

Critical Manning

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the critical manning groups which have been identified in each of the three services; and what the shortfall against requirement was in each case.

Don Touhig: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The critical manning groups identified by each service and the shortfalls against requirement, as at 30 June 2005 and rounded to the nearest 10, are as follows:
	
		
			  Strength Requirement 
		
		
			 Royal Navy   
			 Submarine Nuclear Watchkeepers 120 170 
			 Leading Hand Warfare 1,300 1,810 
			 Submarine Leading Hand Communicators 40 80 
			 Leading Air Engineering Mechanics 390 580 
			 Royal Marines (marine rank) 2,520 3,100 
			 Petty Officer Marine Warfare 40 60 
			 Fast Jet Pilot 60 70 
			 Merlin Pilot 60 80 
			 Merlin Observer 60 100 
			 Merlin Aircrewman 40 50 
			 Leading Aircraft Controller 50 70 
			 Air Engineering Mechanics 970 1,140 
			 Army   
			 Vehicle Mechanic 3,990 4,370 
			 Recovery Mechanic 470 660 
			 Armourer 500 570 
			 Ammunition Technician 280 440 
			 Chef 2,300 2,610 
			 Movements Controller 360 390 
			 Petroleum Operator 210 290 
			 Explosives Ordinance Disposal 520 700 
			 Clerk of Works 210 270 
			 Mechanical Engineering Fitter 540 600 
			 Communications Systems Engineer 730 960 
			 Geographic Technician 300 370 
			 Information Systems Engineer 280 380 
			 Military Intelligence Operator 880 1,330 
			 Military Intelligence Linguist 220 230 
			 Human Intelligence Operator 40 80 
			 General Medical Practitioner 110 210 
			 Nurse (officer) 260 380 
			 Nurse (soldier) 240 390 
			
			 Roval Air Force   
			 Fighter Controller (Squadron Leaders and below) 320 400 
			 Provost/Security (Squadron Leaders and below) 140 170 
			 Admin Training (Squadron Leaders and below) 230 260 
			 Medical Officers 220 280 
			 Medical Support Officers 70 90 
			 Legal Officers 40 50 
			 Chaplains 80 90 
			 Weapon Systems Operator Linguist 40 70 
			 Air Load Master 480 510 
			 Ground Engineering Technician 590 640 
			 Vehicle Technician 400 430 
			 Driver 1,280 1,250 
			 Firefighter 620 650 
			 RAF Regiment Gunner 1,840 1,940 
			 Workshops Technician 160 170 
			 Ground Equipment Technician 680 740

Defence Assistance Fund

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the total cost of the Defence Assistance Fund was for each of the last four years; how much of that funding in each year was used to promote military exports; and what the allocated funding is for 2005–06;
	(2)  what the cost of the Defence Assistance Fund was for the last year for which figures are available; how much of the funding was used to promote military exports; and what the allocated funding is for 2005–06.

John Reid: Defence Assistance Fund (DAF) expenditure was £7.2 million in 2001–02; £9.7 million in 2002–03, £10.4 million in 2003–04 and £13.5 million in 2004–05. Of this, the amount spent on supporting defence exports was £5 million in 2001–02; £4.2 million in 2002–03, £6 million in 2003–2004 and £4.7 million in 2004–05. The DAF allocation for 2005–06 is £17.6 million.

Departmental Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Don Touhig: Until 2001–02 details of the Ministry of Defence's expenditure on advertising were included in those for advertising and publicity" in the annual departmental performance reports, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House.
	For 1999–2000 the information is shown on page 60, Cm 5000; for 2000–01 the information is shown on page 68, Cm 5290 and for 2001–02 the information is shown on page 71, Cm 5661.
	The introduction of resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) in the Ministry of Defence has changed the way in which we account for and record our expenditure. Under RAB there is no specific heading for recording expenditure on advertising. This expenditure is included in the figures for publicity and recruiting" but these figures could be separated only at disproportionate cost. The final outturn figure for publicity and recruiting, which includes advertising, for 2002–03, was £52.5 million and for 2003–04 they were £53.6 million.
	The figures for financial year 2004–05 have not yet been finalised and will not be available until the departmental resource and accounts are published later this year.

Fire Study Recommendations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which recommendations made in the Fire Study 2000 have been implemented to date.

Don Touhig: The Fire Study 2000 recommendations are the subject of an ongoing implementation programme. It is planned to introduce a single, fully integrated and regionally based structure for the delivery of fire services, in line with Fire Study 2000, by the end of September 2006, and this has been accompanied by a review of the delivery of training at national, regional and local level and a rationalisation of vehicle and equipment requirements. As also recommended by Fire Study 2000, the introduction of specialist sponsored reserves for overseas deployments is also being developed.

Headquarters Land

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the co-location of headquarters land.

Adam Ingram: Work to rationalise and collocate HQ land command (currently based in Wilton) and HQ Adjutant General (currently based in Upavon) is ongoing. A review of the higher level organisations is underway and in parallel, a detailed cost/benefit analysis is being carried out on a number of site options. By the end of the year we expect to be reasonably clear about the size and structure of the new organisation(s). Sites currently under consideration are all within the travel to work area for most existing staff. Any significant collocation is unlikely to commence much before 2007, but if a major new build is required, moves may extend well beyond 2008.

Health and Safety

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to monitor the prevalence of noise-related hearing loss among servicemen and women serving in Iraq.

Don Touhig: There are currently no specific measures in place to monitor the prevalence of noise related hearing loss among servicemen and women serving in Iraq. However hearing tests of all service personnel are carried out at periodic medical examinations.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Iraqi government on testing for Iraqi citizens who have been exposed to depleted uranium ammunition deployed by the UK in Iraq.

Don Touhig: None. However, Ministry of Defence officials are attending United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) seminars at which depleted uranium (DU) matters, including environmental monitoring and sampling techniques are discussed with Iraqi representatives.

Japanese Internees

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will apologise to Professor Jack Hayward and others for the distress caused by maladministration in the development and announcement of the ex gratia scheme for British groups interned by the Japanese during the Second World War; and what tangible options are under consideration for the expression of that apology.

Don Touhig: holding answer 19 July 2005
	I made a public apology to Professor Hayward and those similarly affected by the way the scheme was introduced in my written statement on 13 July 2005, Official Report, columns 28–29WS. The possibility of giving tangible expression to this apology is currently under consideration; the options under consideration are financial. I expect to be able to make an announcement soon.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years.

Don Touhig: MOD expenditure on External Assistance (EA), broken down into separate categories, is available in the Library of the House for financial years 1995–96 to 2003–04. Figures for financial year 2004–05 will be placed in the Libraries shortly.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Department.

Don Touhig: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Navy Ships

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships have been (a) decommissioned and (b) mothballed in each of the last 10 years.

Adam Ingram: Since 1996 the number of Royal Navy ships either withdrawn from service or placed into very low readiness (other than for purposes of major refit) are as follows:
	
		
			   Withdrawn from service Placed into very low readiness (excluding for refit) 
		
		
			 1996 3 0 
			 1997 8 0 
			 1998 4 0 
			 1999 4 2 
			 2000 4 0 
			 2001 6 0 
			 2002 5 1 
			 2003 3 2 
			 2004 2 0 
			 2005 8 0 
		
	
	During the remainder of 2005 it is planned that a further four ships will be withdrawn from service and one ship will be placed into very low readiness. Vessels are routinely placed into very low readiness when undergoing major refit work. Therefore, only those ships that have been placed into very low readiness but which did not undergo refit have been included in the table. Vessels held in very low readiness remain available to the Royal Navy until reaching their out of service date and could be regenerated to the Fleet if required.

Sollis Project

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Sollis Project.

Adam Ingram: To date, extensive searches of MOD records have found no reference to a Sollis Project.

Sonar 2087

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which vessels are due to be fitted with Sonar 2087; and by what dates.

Adam Ingram: On current plans eight of the Royal Navy's Type 23 Frigates will be fitted with the 2087 sonar system. It has already been fitted to HMS Westminster and will be installed on the seven remaining vessels during their next available upkeep periods. The currently planned start dates for these upkeep periods, which are subject to periodic review, are:
	
		
			 Ship Upkeep start date 
		
		
			 HMS Northumberland Under way 
			 HMS Richmond Under way 
			 HMS Somerset April 2006 
			 HMS St. Albans May 2007 
			 HMS Sutherland July 2007 
			 HMS Kent January 2010 
			 HMS Portland November 2010

Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Trafalgar and (b) Swiftsure-class submarines are (i) operational and (ii) non-operational; and for what reasons each non-operational submarine is not available to the fleet.

Adam Ingram: There are 11 Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class submarines of which nine are currently available for fleet tasking. HMS Sovereign, HMS Spartan, HMS Superb, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Turbulent, HMS Torbay and HMS Trenchant are all fully operational. HMS Tireless and HMS Sceptre, while available to the fleet, are at a lower state of availability. HMS Tireless is currently undergoing a period of planned maintenance that will include a significant capability upgrade to include fitting Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM). HMS Sceptre will shortly start an equivalent maintenance and upgrade period.
	Two submarines are currently non-operational. HMS Talent is undergoing a scheduled long overhaul period, which includes a refuel of her nuclear reactor. HMS Triumph is about to start her long overhaul period and refuel.

Surveys

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the top four reasons provided in exit surveys in the (a) Naval Service and (b) Royal Air Force for personnel leaving were; and what proportion of responses these answers represented in each year since 1997.

Don Touhig: Exit surveys are conducted within the Naval Services and RAF but it should be noted that, except for RAF officers, as only a relatively small proportion of those choosing to leave respond to these surveys, their results cannot be seen as necessarily representative of their Services as a whole.
	The information requested is given the following tables.
	RN Ratings
	
		April 1997 to February 1998
		
			 Aspects crucial or important in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Ability to plan own life 265 53.8 
			 2 Separation from family and friends 237 48.1 
			 3 Promotion prospects 223 45.2 
			 4 Job satisfaction 154 31.2 
		
	
	
		March 1998 to February 1999
		
			 Main reason for the decision to leave (1st choice aspects) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Desire to live at home 62 13 
			 2 Wish to take up a different career 55 11.5 
			 3 Promotion prospects 46 9.6 
			 4 To marry and raise a family 45 9.4 
		
	
	
		March 1999 to February 2000
		
			 Main reason for the decision to leave (1st choice aspects) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Desire to live at home 65 14.2 
			 2 Separation from family and friends 61 13.3 
			 3 Wish to take up a different career 56 12.2 
			 4 To marry and raise a family 52 11.4 
		
	
	
		March 2000 to February 2001
		
			 Main reason for the decision to leave (1st choice aspects) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Desire to live at home 87 17.2 
			 2 Wish to take up a different career 70 13.8 
			 3 To marry/raise a family 52 10.3 
			 3 Separation from family and friends 52 10.2 
			 3 Job satisfaction 52 10.2 
		
	
	
		March 2001 to February 2002
		
			 Main reason for the decision to leave (1st choice aspects) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Desire to live at home 110 19.4 
			 2 Wish to take up a different career 83 14.7 
			 3 To marry/raise a family 65 11.5 
			 4 Separation from family and friends 57 10.1 
		
	
	
		March 2002 to February 2003
		
			 Main reason for the decision to leave (1st choice aspects) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Desire to live at home 124 23.7 
			 2 Wish to take up a different career 103 19.7 
			 3 To marry/raise a family 45 8.6 
			 4 Separation from family and friends 29 5.5 
		
	
	
		March 2003 to January 2004
		
			 Main reason for the decision to leave (1st choice aspects) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Desire to live at home 132 22.7 
			 2 Wish to take up a different career 96 16.5 
			 3 To marry/raise a family 65 11.2 
			 4 Separation from family and friends 40 6.9 
		
	
	RN Officers
	
		June 1997 to May 1998
		
			 Aspects in decision to leave (in order of importance) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Job prospects if you were to remain 78 53.1 
			 2 Kind of Service jobs to expect in the future 76 51.7 
			 3 Extent of domestic disruption 45 30.6 
			 4 Ability to plan your own life 42 28.6 
		
	
	
		June 1998 to May 1999
		
			 1st choice aspects crucial or important in decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Kind of Service jobs to expect in the future 14 11.8 
			 2 Job prospects if you were to remain 12 10.1 
			 3 Wish to take up a different career 12 10.1 
			 4 The desire to live at home 12 10.1 
		
	
	
		June 1999 to May 2000
		
			 Main reason crucial in the decision to leave (in order of importance) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Kind of Service jobs to expect in the future 21 17.1 
			 2 Job prospects if you were to remain 18 14.6 
			 3 Wish to take up a different career 14 8.9 
			 4 Separation from family and friends 6 4.9 
		
	
	
		June 2000 to May 2001
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Wish to take up a different career 30 17.2 
			 2 Job prospects if you were to remain 24 13.8 
			 3 A job opportunity (offer of a job) 13 7.5 
			 4 The desire to live at home 13 7.5 
		
	
	
		June 2001 to May 2002
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 A job opportunity (offer of a job) 17 12.3 
			 2 Job prospects if you were to remain 16 11.6 
			 3 The desire to live at home 12 8.7 
			 4 The kind Service jobs in the future 11 8 
		
	
	
		June 2002 to May 2003
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 A job opportunity (offer of a job) 15 10.8 
			 2 To marry/raise a family 13 9.4 
			 3 Job prospects if you were to remain 12 8.6 
			 4 Wish to take up a different career 11 7.9 
			 4 The appointing process 11 7.9 
			 4 Desire to live at home 11 7.9 
		
	
	
		June 2003 to May 2004
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Wish to take up a different career 12 14.6 
			 2 A job opportunity (offer of a job) 11 13.4 
			 3 Kind of Service jobs in the future 7 8.5 
			 3 Wish to marry/raise a family 7 8.5 
		
	
	RM Other Ranks
	
		April 1997 to March 1998
		
			 Aspects crucial or important in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1st choice aspect Pay in general 26 17.3 
			 2nd choice aspect Promotion prospects 17 11.7 
			 3rd choice aspect Promotion prospects Pay in general 17 11.7 
			 4th choice aspect Drafting process 15 10.8 
		
	
	
		April 1998 to March 1999
		
			 Aspects crucial or important in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1st choice aspect Wish to take up a different career 22 14.9 
			 2nd choice aspect Desire to live at home 19 12.8 
			 3rd choice aspect Wish to take up a different career 15 10.2 
			 4th choice aspect Pay in general 13 9.3 
		
	
	
		May 2000 to April 2001
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Wish to take up a different career 42 26.9 
			 2 Desire to live at home 21 13 
			 3 Job satisfaction 14 18.7 
			 3 Pay in general 14 18.7 
			 4 To marry/raise a family 8 4.97 
		
	
	
		April 2001 to March 2002
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Wish to take up a different career 41 23.7 
			 2 Desire to live at home 24 13.9 
			 3 To marry/raise a family 16 9.2 
			 4 Pay in general 11 6.4 
		
	
	
		May 2002 to April 2003
		
			 Main (1st choice) reason crucial in the decision to leave Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Wish to take up a different career 36 22.2 
			 2 To marry/raise a family 23 14.2 
			 3 Desire to live at home 18 11.1 
			 4 Pay in general 13 8 
		
	
	
		RAF Airmen's top four reasons for leaving on own decision 1998 to 2004 (no survey before 1998)
		
			  1998 Percentage 
		
		
			   N = 399 
			 1 Promotion prospects 28.3 
			 2 Lack of job satisfaction 22.8 
			 3 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 16.0 
			 4 Promotion does not appear to be related to abilities 14.3 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 Percentage 
		
		
			   N = 717 
			 1 Promotion prospects 22.5 
			 2 Lack of job satisfaction 16.6 
			 3 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 14.6 
			 4 Family stability 14.4 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 Percentage 
		
		
			   N = 896 
			 1 Promotion prospects 23.4 
			 2 Lack of job satisfaction 19.9 
			 3 Family stability 15.7 
			 4 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 15.3 
		
	
	
		
			   Percentage 
		
		
			  2001 N = 769 
			 1 Promotion prospects 17.3 
			 2 Lack of job satisfaction 16.6 
			 3 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 15.5 
			 4 Family stability 15.3 
		
	
	
		
			  2002 Percentage 
		
		
			   N = 774 
			 1 Lack of job satisfaction (1=) 18.5 
			 2 Family stability (1=) 18.5 
			 3 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 17.1 
			 4 Promotion prospects 16.9 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 Percentage 
		
		
			   N = 697 
			 1 Family stability 20.7 
			 2 Lack of job satisfaction 19.9 
			 3 Promotion prospects 15.2 
			 4 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 15.1 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 Percentage 
		
		
			   N = 542 
			 1 Lack of job satisfaction 26.2 
			 2 Service morale 21.6 
			 3 Family stability 20.8 
			 4 If I stayed in any longer it would be difficult to start a second career 20.7 
		
	
	
		RAF Officers top four reasons for leaving 1996 to-2004
		
			  1996–97 (n=173) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 80.3 (n=139) 
			 2 Career prospects outside the RAF 72.3 (n=125) 
			 3 Job satisfaction 66.5 (n=115) 
			 4 The impact of change on the RAF 64.8 (n=112) 
		
	
	
		
			  1997–98 (n=249) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 74.7 (n=186) 
			 2 Service morale 68.3 (n=170) 
			 3 Career prospects outside the RAF 67.9 (n=169) 
			 4 Future of the RAF 65.5 (n=163) 
		
	
	
		
			  1998–99 (n=228) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 75.4 (n=172) 
			 2 The effects of civilianisation and contractorisation on the RAF 67.1 (n=153) 
			 3 Career prospects outside the RAF 66.7 (n=152) 
			 4 Service morale 65.4 (n=149) 
		
	
	
		
			  1999–2000 (n=276) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 72.5 (n=200) 
			 2 Job satisfaction 66.6 (n=184) 
			 3 Career prospects outside the RAF 63.1 (n=174) 
			 4 Service morale 62.7 (n=173) 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01 (n=262) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Future job satisfaction 71.8 (n=188) 
			 2 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 71.0 (n=186) 
			 3 Career prospects outside the RAF 66.1 (n=173) 
			 4 Current job satisfaction 62.6 (n=164) 
		
	
	
		
			  2001–02 (n=196) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Future job satisfaction 77.0 (n=151) 
			 2 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 66.3 (n=130) 
			 3 Family stability 62.8 (n=123) 
			 4 Promotion prospects 61.7 (n=121) 
		
	
	
		
			  2002–03 (n=184) Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Future job satisfaction 78.3 (n=144) 
			 2 Family stability 66.3 (n=122) 
			 3 Separation from family 64.7 (n=119) 
			 4 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 62.0 (n=114) 
		
	
	
		
			  2003–04 (n=180)1 Percentage 
		
		
			 1 Family stability 81.3 (n=122) 
			 2 To spend more time with my family 81.2 (n=121) 
			 3 Employment opportunities outside the RAF 79.2 (n=122) 
			 4 Career prospects outside the RAF 78.1 (n=121) 
		
	
	(30) Percentages for 2003–04 responses include only those individuals who answered an individual item, not for the whole response rate. Responses for 1996 to 2003, however are for the whole response rate.

TA Deployment

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the minimum qualification is for a Territorial Army private soldier to be called up for deployment.

Don Touhig: All Territorial Army (TA) personnel currently called up for deployments must be at least 18 years of age and have completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 training. Upon mobilisation, all soldiers receive health checks and additional preparation and training for 10 days at the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre (RTMC), before attending five days further pre-deployment training, designed specifically for the theatre to which they are deploying, at the Operational Training Advisory Group (OPTAG). Provided all training and medical standards have been met, soldiers are deemed fit to deploy to theatres and at this stage the majority will join a regular unit, for up to two months prior to deployment, where they will undergo further integration and training.

Type 45 Destroyers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the planned in-service date will be for each Type 45 Destroyer;
	(2)  whether it remains his intention that eight Type 45 Destroyers will be built;
	(3)  when each of the remaining Type 45 Destroyers will be ordered.

Adam Ingram: In July 2004 the Secretary of State for Defence announced plans for a class of eight Type 45 Destroyers, of which six hulls are on contract. Formal approval, and a subsequent order, for ships seven and eight will be sought at the appropriate time. The currently forecast In Service Date (ISD) for the First of Class, HMS Daring, is May 2009. The remaining five ships are planned to enter service at intervals over a four year period following the First of Class ISD.

War Graves

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK war graves there are in (a) Singapore, (b) Malaysia, (c) Hong Kong, (d) Burma, (e) India, (f) Pakistan and (g) Thailand; what the cost was of the upkeep (i) in each country and (ii) per grave in each of the last five years; and when each site was last inspected.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) figures for the number of United Kingdom (UK) world war and non world war graves for each country listed and the date when each site was last inspected.
	
		
			 Country World war graves Non world war graves Last CWGC inspection(31) 
		
		
			 Singapore 2,729 1,385 June 2005 
			 Malaysia 1,531 2,428 October 2004 
			 Hong Kong 1,842 3,007 September 2004 
			 Myanmar (Burma) 7,311 — April 2005 
			 India 7,484 200 March 2005 
			 Pakistan 834 — April 2005 
			 Thailand 5,129 1 February 2005 
		
	
	(31) The dates shown are those when each site was last inspected by CWGC staff. They do not include visits which may have been made by UK Government representatives.
	The CWGC does not hold upkeep costs or costs per grave for each country. However, the world wide figures for the upkeep costs per grave in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Cost 
		
		
			 2000–01 27.57 
			 2001–02 28.09 
			 2002–03 30.31 
			 2003–04 32.00 
			 2004–05 34.63

War Graves

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the War Graves Commission in (a) Europe, (b) Asia and (c) the Middle East.

Don Touhig: The number of people who work for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is in the region of 945 in Europe, 135 in Asia and 52 in the Middle East.
	The figure for Europe includes CWGC staff based in the United Kingdom but who travel extensively in other parts of the world. The figures do not include the work undertaken by contract staff.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

British Library

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost of consultants employed by the British Library was in each of the past five years.

David Lammy: The total cost of consultants employed by the British Library in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Total value of consultancy contracts let (£) per year 
		
		
			 2000–01 435,000 
			 2001–02 623,000 
			 2002–03 529,000 
			 2003–04 259,000 
			 2004–05 546,000

British Library

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average length of contracts awarded to consultants at the British Library was in each of the past five years.

David Lammy: The average length of contracts awarded to consultants by the British Library in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Average duration of consultancy contracts (months) 
		
		
			 2000–01 7.4 
			 2001–02 3.1 
			 2002–03 5.8 
			 2003–04 5.5 
			 2004–05 5.1

British Library

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many consultants have become permanent members of staff of the British Library following the end of their contract in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: So far as the British Library is aware, no consultants have become permanent members of staff of the British Library following the end of their contract over the past five years.

British Library

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the added value made to the British Library by consultants employed by them in each of the past five years.

David Lammy: The Department has made no assessment of the added value made to the British Library by consultants employed by them over the past five years. Under the terms of its financial memorandum, it is the Library's responsibility to ensure best value for money from consultancy services.

British Library

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of staff are employed by the British Library in (a) Boston Spa, (b) St. Pancras and (c) Colindale.

David Lammy: The members of staff employed by the British Library are as follows:
	
		
			 Location Headcount Full time equivalent 
		
		
			 St. Pancras 1,112 1,011.3 
			 Boston Spa 1,045 944.98 
			 Colindale 109 107.4 
			 Other sites 79 75.66 
			 Total 2,345 2,139.34

National Lottery

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which village halls and community centres have benefited from Lottery funding in the Hertford and Stortford constituency since 1997.

Richard Caborn: Since 1997, Lottery distributors have made 204 awards totalling more than £8.4 million in the Hertford and Stortford constituency.
	13 of these awards, between them totalling more than £215,000, were made by the former Community Fund (now part of the Big Lottery Fund) to the following village halls and community centres:
	Bengeo Sports Association
	Hunsdon Village Hall
	Little Berkhamsted Parish Council
	Much Hadham Parochial Church Council
	Parish Hall, Stansted Abbotts
	Sawbridgeworth Memorial Hall
	The Eastwick and Gilston Village Hall
	The High Wych Memorial Hall (three awards)
	Thorley Community Centre Limited
	Wareside Village Hall
	Widford Village Hall
	The Heritage Lottery Fund also awarded a grant to Church House, Sawbridgeworth, for the purpose of providing a meeting room for community use.
	Further Lottery awards have been made by other distributors, including Arts Council England and Sport England for eligible activities taking place within community buildings.

Olympics 2012

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the implications are of the successful bid to hold the 2012 Olympic Games in London for the (a) workload and (b) staffing levels of her Department.

Tessa Jowell: We have already undertaken detailed planning on the resources needed to successfully deliver the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A transitional Organising Committee are already in place and an Olympic Delivery Authority will be established as part of the London Olympics Bill.
	Within Government, the OGC are advising on the additional resources required to ensure Government will fulfil their obligations and delivers the commitments given.

Olympics 2012

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assurances the Government have given to the International Olympic Committee of financial guarantees for the London Olympics in the event of cost overruns.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 13 July 2005
	London's bid underwent rigorous assessment by the International Olympic Committee, Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce. The Government remains committed to ensuring the 2012 Games are delivered on time and on budget.
	As part of the bidding process we have provided the International Olympic Committee with a guarantee that:
	the Government will act as the ultimate guarantor of Olympic funding should there be a shortfall between the LOCOG's (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) costs and revenues".
	Copies of the guarantees given by the Government to the International Olympic Committee were deposited in the House Libraries on 19 November 2004.

Young People (Summer Activities)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, columns 550–51, to the hon. Member for Worsley (Barbara Keeley), on young people (summer activities), if she will list the programmes of summer activities for young people that her Department intends to fund during the summer holidays.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 14 July 2005
	My Department supports a number of activities funded across Government, our public bodies and by the Big Lottery Fund which will deliver a range of sporting and cultural opportunities for young people this summer. There are two main national programmes:
	Positive Activities for Young People—with Department for Education and Skills, Youth Justice Board, ODPM, Government Offices and the Big Lottery Fund and
	Do it For Real—run by the Big Lottery Fund
	In addition there will be a wide range of local opportunities for young people supported by our public bodies and local authorities :
	Many Museums will providing summer schools, festivals and other projects
	Libraries will once again be running the summer reading challenge and other events.
	Sport England will be supporting local clubs and projects such as the Street Games in London and the North East.
	Art Council England will be supporting local arts clubs activity.

Youth Development Sport Schemes

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to sporting schemes and youth development through sport in (a) Teesside and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Richard Caborn: This data are not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) national strategy—being implemented jointly with the Department for Education and Skills—aims to increase the percentage of five to16-year-olds in England spending two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum, to 75 per cent. by 2006, and to 85 per cent. by 2008. The 2003–04 school sports survey—the largest and most comprehensive survey of school sport in England—found that overall 62 per cent. of pupils in the 6,500 schools taking part in the survey were already spending at least two hours a week on high quality PE and school sport in a typical week.
	Spearheading action is the establishment of a network of 400 sports colleges and school sport partnerships. To date there are six live school sport partnerships (SSPs) in Teesside. This includes two in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. SSPs are 'families of secondary and primary schools' which come together to increase the amount and quality of sports opportunities for all children.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Airwave System

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the evaluation he has made of the Airwave system in advance of a decision on Firelink.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is still engaged in the Firelink procurement and does not propose to release evaluation considerations because of the commercial sensitivity of the information.

Civil Service

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out the remit and membership of the Sustainable Procurement Task Force.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	Established in May 2005, the Sustainable Procurement Task Force is charged with drawing up an action plan by April 2006 to bring about a step-change in sustainable public procurement so that the UK is among the leaders in the EU by 2009.
	The Action Plan will set out how to:
	Avoid adverse environmental impacts arising on the government estate and in the supply-chain.
	Make more efficient use of public resources.
	Stimulate the market to innovate and to produce more cost effective and sustainable options for all purchasers.
	Set an example for business and the public and demonstrate that government and the wider public sector is serious about sustainable development.
	The Task Force is business led under the chairmanship of Sir Neville Simms but the membership of the group has been chosen to bring in a wide cross-section of expertise. Further information about the Sustainable Procurement Task Force can be found at: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/delivery/global-local/ProcurementTaskForce.htm

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether occupied Crown property is exempt from council tax.

Phil Woolas: The largest class of dwellings owned by the Crown is armed forces' accommodation. This is exempt from council tax under section 4 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The Ministry of Defence pays contributions in lieu of council tax to billing authorities instead. The Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to other occupied Crown owned property in the same way as it does to other domestic accommodation.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition of (a) composite hereditament and (b) hereditament is used for council tax purposes.

Phil Woolas: For council tax purposes, the definition of a composite hereditament which is used is that contained in Part III of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the definition of a hereditament which is used is that in section 115(1) of the General Rate Act 1967, if that Act had remained in force.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the penalties are for non-payment of council tax.

Phil Woolas: If the appropriate reminder notices have been sent and a debt remains unpaid, a local billing authority may apply to the magistrates court for a Liability Order which formally establishes that there is a debt. The Liability Order enables enforcement action to be taken.
	Local authorities have a wide range of enforcement powers, including attachment of earnings orders, deductions from some benefits, the levying of distress by bailiffs and, ultimately, where the billing authority has sought to levy distress and has failed to find any or sufficient goods on which to levy the amount, if the non-payment is due to wilful refusal or culpable neglect on the part of the council taxpayer, application to the magistrates court for commitment to prison.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 298W, on council tax, what the percentage second homes council tax discount levied by the local authorities that cover his official residences at (a) Admiralty House and (b) Dorneywood is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 14 July 2005
	The council tax on the flat at Admiralty House occupied by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is levied by the Westminster city council. The second home discount on council tax is 10 per cent.
	Dorneywood is owned and operated by the Dorneywood Trust which is a registered charity and is not accountable to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Council Tax/Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what circumstances Travellers in unauthorised developments may be liable for business rates; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Liability for non-domestic rates falls on a person—the ratepayer—who is in occupation of all or part of a hereditament that is shown in a local non-domestic rating list, whether or not the hereditament forms part of an unauthorised development. Whether Travellers are liable for non-domestic rates will depend on the facts of the particular case.

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. For financial year 2002–03 it is not possible to provide an accurate list of companies with whom the Department has purchased goods and services with a value above £1,000,000 as expenditure in 2002–03 for ODPM suppliers cannot be separately identified from expenditure incurred by the Department for Transport on their suppliers. For 2003–04 and 2004–05 a table of those companies with whom the Department has purchased goods and services with a value above £1,000,000 has been provided as follows.
	
		
			  Company £ 
		
		
			 2003–04 
			 424050 Marshall Specialist Vehicles Ltd. 23,574,253.63 
			 408530 Land Securities Properties Ltd. 14,552,163.81 
			 411628 Fire Service College 13,146,005.84 
			 416615 Professional Protection Systems 11,421,687.44 
			 423422 Ashdown House Ltd. 7,340,359.75 
			 407504 Building Research Establishment 4,828,502.30 
			 408972 Westminster City Council 4,785,817.29 
			 412271 Carat Ltd. 4,296,512.59 
			 409389 Regus (UK) Ltd. 4,216,376.86 
			 3355 BNFL Plc Instruments 4,037,096.32 
			 408427 Sheffield University 3,555,081.10 
			 416726 Respirex International 3,426,755.39 
			 3406 Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd. 3,423,174.50 
			 407762 Capgemini UK Plc 3,085,533.11 
			 425676 E2V Technologies (UK) Ltd. 2,643,750.00 
			 409018 Mott Macdonald 2,602,363.33 
			 409038 Xansa Recruitment Ltd. 2,137,730.49 
			 407765 Capgemini UK Plc 2,085,871.19 
			 403552 Healey & Baker 1,997,024.75 
			 414802 West Yorkshire Police Authority 1,916,859.53 
			 409231 P A Consulting Group 1,844,801.61 
			 416708 Hughes Safety Showers Ltd. 1,718,855.36 
			 412310 London Fire & Emergency Planning 1,713,874.94 
			 404870 Miller Mitchell Burley Lane 1,478,481.00 
			 407423 Adecco 1,463,587.79 
			 3130 Siemens Environmental Systems Ltd. 1,432,301.57 
			 414946 Thames Valley Police 1,362,991.44 
			 413647 Marchington Properties Ltd. 1,335,004.68 
			 401968 Computacenter (UK) Ltd. 1,331,393.34 
			 407359 West Midlands Police Authority 1,207,870.80 
			 3031 Dalkia Energy & Technical Servs 1,199,643.75 
			 405007 National Centre for Social Research 1,190,735.50 
			 403506 Harry Weeks Travel & Leisure Group 1,074,660.50 
			 403390 Greater Manchester Police 1,068,703.78 
			 404144 Kent Police Authority 1,039,386.76 
			 3146 British Nuclear Fuels 1,025,024.48 
			
			 2004–05  
			 424050 Marshall Specialist Vehicles Ltd. 25,362,102.22 
			 408530 Land Securities Properties Ltd. 14,711,250.00 
			 411628 Fire Service College 14,228,804.48 
			 423422 Ashdown House Ltd. 9,336,797.00 
			 409231 P A Consulting Group 8,042,674.63 
			 417823 Sheffield Hallam University 5,945,155.64 
			 408972 Westminster City Council 5,147,389.51 
			 428249 Mitie Managed Services Southern 5,145,799.42 
			 412271 Carat Ltd. 4,445,900.80 
			 407504 Building Research Establishment 4,293,235.19 
			 417011 National Transcommunications Ltd. 4,199,412.40 
			 409389 Regus (UK) Ltd. 3,152,920.16 
			 427555 Scout Solutions Projects Ltd. 3,126,204.88 
			 402805 Employers Org For Local Government 2,986,288.87 
			 425676 E2V Technologies (UK) Ltd. 2,643,750.00 
			 409018 Mott Macdonald 2,625,283.72 
			 424311 Serco Government Consulting 2,328,000.14 
			 405758 Public Private Partnerships Programme 2,207,788.44 
			 3355 BNFL Plc Instruments 2,072,820.75 
			 404870 Miller Mitchell Burley Lane 1,645,621.66 
			 416726 Respirex International 1,568,366.45 
			 401968 Computacenter (UK) Ltd. 1,562,105.49 
			 402559 Fabermaunsell 1,418,256.01 
			 416705 Aire Group Ltd. 1,395,866.48 
			 407423 Adecco 1,370,821.38 
			 403506 Harry Weeks Travel & Leisure Group 1,324,644.07 
			 409349 R T P I 1,258,944.79 
			 428057 7E Communications Ltd. 1,230,589.62 
			 403750 IBM UK Ltd. 1,216,655.58 
			 412310 London Fire & Emergency Planning 1,205,999.74 
			 406303 SQW Ltd. 1,205,929.41 
			 405007 National Centre For Social Research 1,183,601.33 
			 425406 Robson Brown Ltd. 1,165,734.88 
			 403803 Improvement & Development Agency 1,132,169.83 
			 428535 Grayling UK Ltd. 1,121,425.26 
			 403458 Kellogg Brown & Root Ltd. 1,109,127.00 
			 428175 DTZ Debenham Tie Leung 1,074,730.01 
			 408757 Turner & Townsend (13426542) 1,048,666.88

Fire Service

David Lidington: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what evidence the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick), based the comment in his letter of 1 July to all hon. Members that (a) the Chief Fire Officers' Association and (b) the Local Government Association support the Government's plans to regionalise fire control rooms; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Chief Fire Officers' Association policy document, CFOA Position on Regional Control Centres" of April 2005 expresses the organisation's support for the project (on http://www.cfoa.org.uk/cfoa_public). CFOA and the Local Government Association have expressed their support as critical friends" of the project through membership of the project board, when briefing Regional Management Boards, and at other meetings.

Fire Service

Michael Fallon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the total cost of establishing the proposed regional Fire Control Centre for south-east England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Figures for the south-east only are not currently available, as the business case for the FiReControl project currently exists only at a national level. The estimated total net cost of setting up the new control centres across England is about £72 million. RCCs, once fully operational, should reduce running costs by 30 per cent.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with Fire and Rescue Authorities to provide more detailed information on both costs and benefits at local level.

Fire Service

George Galloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the recent cuts in the number of fire engines at Euston and Bethnal Green and the closure of Manchester Square fire station on the ability of the fire service to respond to the events of 7 July; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will reverse the recent reductions in fire cover in central London following the events of 7 July; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I discussed these matters with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) on Friday 8 July. I am advised that the London Fire Brigade's Integrated Risk Management Plan (the London Safety Plan) specifically addresses the question of maintaining resilience to deal with major acts of terrorism or other catastrophic emergencies. Fire engines are being redeployed to other stations rather than withdrawn from service and they remain available to provide support on incidents such as those on 7 July.
	The authority assured both my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and me that their planning—including recent changes to the location of fire engines and the significant Government investment in new specialist vehicles, equipment and training—have proved up to the task.
	Each fire and rescue authority's arrangements are the responsibility of the elected members of the authority concerned. It is, therefore, for LFEPA to determine appropriate fire cover for its area.

Fire Service

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to conclude the procurement process for Firelink.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to award the Firelink contract in November 2005.

Fire Service

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list representations he has received on the Firelink Project.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Various members have written with questions about the Firelink procurement. Responses to these questions have been recorded in the Official Report. Since the National competition was announced my predecessors and I have received representations from hon. Members of this House on behalf of constituents and from a number of potential suppliers. The Government are committed to run a fair and open competition for Firelink in accordance with EU requirements. The decision as to which company will be awarded the contract will be made within the rules of the competition.

Group 4 Securicor

Doug Henderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent by his Department and any public body or agency for which he is responsible on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year; and if he will list (a) the nature and location of services provided and (b) the start and end dates of any current such contracts.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no contracts with Group 4 Securicor to provide security services.

Gypsy/Traveller Sites

Julie Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Gypsy and Traveller sites that have benefited from a refurbishment grant since the scheme was introduced, broken down by (a) date, (b) cost, (c) number of pitches and (d) estimated number of individuals expected to reside there.

Yvette Cooper: Information which lists the authorities awarded Gypsy Site Refurbishment grant, their sites, the amount of grant awarded and the year in which grant was paid has been placed in the Library of the House. This year's grant has not yet been announced.
	The published caravan count holds information on the number of pitches on authority sites and is available in the Library of the House.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the estimated number of people expected to reside on each site.

Press Officers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many press officers the Department and its predecessors employed in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	On 1 April 2003, ODPM(c) employed 21.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers. Pay costs for the period 1 June 2002 to 31 March 2003 were £0.86 million.
	On 1 April 2004, 23 FTE press officers were employed. Pay costs for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 were £1.036 million.
	On 1 April 2005, 20 FTE press officers were employed. Pay costs for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 were £1.059 million.
	Figures for years prior to the creation of ODPM are not available.

Regional Emergency Control Centres

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role chief fire officers will have in signing off the safety case for the introduction of regional emergency control centres; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) is working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that the project will achieve its aim of improving public and firefighter safety. Its representative chairs the project's Senior Operations Group, which comprises officers at Principal and Chief Officer level. CFOA was fully engaged in drawing up the fire safety and protection strategy for the new control centres, set out in their circular 2005/1068 issued on 7 July.

Regional Housing Boards

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the recommended investment strategy is for each regional housing board for 2006 to 2008.

Yvette Cooper: The submissions setting out recommendations on the allocation of Regional Housing Pot resources for 2006–07 and 2007–08 are, or will shortly be, available on Regional Housing Board or Government Office websites. The Government will set out its response in due course.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recompense for legal costs is available to individuals investigated by the Standards Board for England; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 409W.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints investigated by the Standards Board for England in each of the past three years have related to elected councillors.

Phil Woolas: The Standards Board for England can consider allegations of misconduct against elected or co-opted members of relevant authorities. Its records do not differentiate between these types of members.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints to the Standards Board for England about (a) Labour, (b) Conservative, (c) Liberal Democrat, (d) Independent and (e) other parties' councillors have been (i) referred for investigation and (ii) found to be in breach of the board's code of conduct.

Phil Woolas: The Standards Board for England does not record information regarding the political affiliation of councillors who are the subject of allegations of misconduct.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department has undertaken research into the average cost of defending oneself in an investigation undertaken by the Standards Board for England.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has undertaken no such research.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people the Standards Board for England employs; and in what capacity each person is employed.

Phil Woolas: Information on the number of staff employed by the Standards Board for England and which Departments they work in is provided in the board's annual report and accounts, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are eligible for investigation by the Standards Board for England.

Phil Woolas: The code of conduct for members, alleged breaches of which are investigated by officers of the Standards Board for England, applies to over 100,000 members of local authorities, including parish councils, and of other public bodies, such as national park authorities, the Broads Authority, fire and civil defence authorities, police authorities, and passenger transport authorities.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of complaints made to the Standards Board for England have been about (a) elected representatives, (b) members of police authorities, (c) members of fire authorities, (d) members of park authorities and (e) members of the Broads Authority in each of the past four years.

Phil Woolas: Information on the proportion of allegations of misconduct received each year by the Standards Board for England relating to members of police authorities, fire and civil defence authorities, national park authorities and the Broads Authority is given as follows. The board's records do not distinguish between allegations made in respect of elected and co-opted members.
	2002–03
	Members of police authorities: 0.3 per cent. of total number of allegations
	Members of fire and civil defence authorities: 0.1 per cent.
	Members of national park authorities and Broads Authority: 0.2 per cent.
	2003–04
	Members of police authorities: 0.2 per cent. of total number of allegations
	Members of fire and civil defence authorities: 0.2 per cent.
	Members of national park authorities and Broads Authority: 0.3 per cent.
	2004–05
	Members of police authorities: 1.2 per cent. of total number of allegations
	Members of fire and civil defence authorities: 0.2 per cent.
	Members of national park authorities and Broads Authority: 0.1 per cent.
	The board does not keep separate records of the numbers of allegations received in respect of members of national park authorities and the Broads Authority, so combined figures are given for these bodies.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time was for a case referred to the Standards Board for England to be resolved in each year since its inception.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 407–08W.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what training investigating officers in the Standards Board for England receive in local government before starting employment; and how long such training lasts.

Phil Woolas: Training provided for staff in the Standards Board for England's investigations Department consists of a six-week induction programme, part of which focuses on the structure and functions of local government and on how decisions are taken in local authorities. The board also provides training seminars and investigative skills training as part of its professional development programme. All staff are included in continuing professional development, which includes a regular assessment of training needs and the provision of training as appropriate.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of investigations officers employed by the Standards Board for England have previously worked in local government.

Phil Woolas: Of the staff currently employed by the Standards Board for England who investigate allegations of misconduct, 65 per cent. have experience of working in local government.

Thurrock Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the total cost has been of the Thurrock Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when the chief executive of the Thurrock Development Corporation was appointed; when he took up his appointment; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  on what date the Thurrock Development Corporation opened an office in Thurrock; and what the reasons are for the delay in opening this office;
	(4)  when he proposes to lay an Order transferring planning functions to the Thurrock Development Corporation; to what parliamentary procedure it will be subject; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on the progress made since its inception by the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation; what key decisions it has taken; and what the timetable is for its future work programme.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation was established in October 2003. Since then the Corporation has focussed on the development of its strategic plans and strategies with particular emphasis on corporate governance, business planning, regeneration, development control and spatial land use issues. The Corporation has also worked with local and regional partners with respect to the preparation of a broad programme of capital interventions, which will kick start the regeneration and growth of the area. Funding for the Corporation's first capital project (a regional RSPB Visitors Centre at Rainham Marshes) was announced in June 2005.
	The appointment of the chief executive was announced by the Corporation on 14 October 2004. He took up the post on 18 October 2004. To 31 March 2005, the total cost of setting up the Corporation was £1,321,927. An Order making the Corporation the local planning authority for strategic development will be laid before Parliament shortly under the negative resolution procedure. The acute lack of office accommodation in Thurrock has prevented the Corporation from establishing itself in the Thurrock area. However the organisation will be moving to their new offices in Thurrock (Gateway House, Purfleet) at the beginning of August 2005.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the Afghan administration to take steps to prevent people associated with making substantial income from the narcotics trade in Afghanistan from participating in elections.

Kim Howells: holding answer 19 July 2005
	The UK has suggested to the Joint Election Management Board (JEMB) and the UN that Parliamentary candidates be asked to make a specific statement confirming that they have no connections with the illegal drugs trade in Afghanistan.
	Candidates for the Parliamentary and Provincial elections can only stand if they meet the criteria stipulated in article 85 of the Afghan Constitution, articles 14 and 15 of the Electoral Law or the JEMB regulations. The criteria include: being an Afghan citizen, having reached the required age, having resigned from his/her position as an electoral officer or senior government, security or justice official, not having been convicted of crimes against humanity or any other crime, not having been deprived of his/her civil rights by a court, not commanding or belonging to an unofficial armed group.

Afghanistan

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on the development of the justice sector in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 19 July 2005
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held talks with the Italian Foreign Minister on 19 July.
	The UK supports Italy's role as lead nation for justice sector reform in Afghanistan. We welcome Italy's newly launched three year action plan which will focus on judicial capacity building and which aims to train 1,500 people.
	As lead nation on counter narcotics the UK is working in support of the Afghan government's 2005 implementation plan, of which criminal justice is a key pillar.

Bill Sponsorship

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Bills were sponsored by his Department in each Session since 1979.

Jack Straw: pursuant to the reply, 18 July 2005, Official Report, c. 1368W
	I regret that the answer on 18 July 2005 was incomplete. The list of legislation for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been responsible since 1997 should also have included the Landmines Act 1998.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government have been consulted by either party regarding Iran's proposed assistance with the training and upgrading of Iraq's armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Our understanding is that Iran will not be training Iraqi armed forces. On 12 July, the Iraqi Defence Minister, Sa'dun al-Dulaymi said, in response to a journalist's question about the Iranian Defence Minister's claims that Iraq had agreed to Iranian training of Iraqi troops, that this had not been discussed between Iran and Iraq, adding that we have 10 centres of training here in Iraq and we have the full capacity."

Israel

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the extension of the nationality and entry into Israel law (temporary order) prohibiting residents or citizens of Israel who are married to residents of the occupied territories from living in Israel with their spouses was rescinded or amended at the review on 31 May 2005 of the citizenship and entrance to Israel law; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: On 15 May 2005 the Israeli Cabinet approved an amendment to the nationality and entry into Israel law, allowing men over the age of 35 and women over 25 to apply for immigration in the framework of family re-unification. The amendment has not yet passed the Knesset. On 30 May 2005 the Knesset extended the validity of the current law for a further three months.
	We are concerned about this law and its effects, and we have raised these concerns with the Israeli Government. We will continue to monitor the situation with regard to this law.

Israel

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the (a) apprehension, (b) imprisonment and (c) current restrictions on Mordechai Vanunu; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir Michael Spicer) on 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1372W.

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what his latest assessment is of the measures the Palestinian Authority is taking to prevent terror attacks being launched against Israel;
	(2)  what his assessment is of compliance by Hamas with the cease-fire commitment it agreed with the Palestinian Authority in Cairo in March.

Kim Howells: We are greatly concerned at the escalation of violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories since 12 July 2005. We note that the Palestinian Authority has taken some steps to prevent militants from firing rockets into Israel from Gaza. Palestinian security forces have suffered casualties in attempting to do so. We call upon the Palestinian Authority to take immediate and effective action to control the security situation and urge Israel to co-operate in this regard, including by showing maximum restraint.
	Palestinian militants, including Hamas militants, have fired rockets and mortars at Israeli targets, and there have also been violent clashes between Hamas militants and Palestinian Authority security forces. This appears to be in contravention of the agreement on 17 March 2005 in Cairo made by Palestinian militant groups to extend a period of calm until the end of 2005. We urge all groups to end violence, and call on Hamas to renounce violence for good and enter the political process.

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the progress made by the Palestinian Authority in implementing the recommendations of the European Commission's observation mission on democratic elections.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca Davies) on 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 487W.

People Trafficking

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to tackle the trafficking of young women from Eastern Europe since the enlargement of the EU in 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Trafficking in human beings, for any purpose, is a particularly abhorrent crime and the UK is committed to taking firm action to combat it.
	Since accession, all nationals of the new EU member states have rights of free movement throughout the EU. The UK also provides full access to its labour market to workers from the new member states through the worker registration scheme. A national from a new member state can therefore move to and work legally in the United Kingdom. But there is self-evidently a very clear distinction between voluntary movement of this sort and trafficking.
	Trafficking is a priority issue for the UK's presidency of the EU. We aim to bring a particular focus on raising best practice, by improving the exchange of law enforcement information and supporting the development of intelligence-led policing. As presidency we will also work closely with other EU member states and the Commission on developing an EU plan to combat human trafficking, which provides a balanced and coherent framework that will support the efforts of law enforcement and protect the victims of trafficking. We will also continue to work closely with the relevant international organisations, UN agencies and NGOs.
	Nationally, as part of the UK's work to tackle organised immigration crime, the UK has established, under a multi-agency taskforce known as Reflex, a network of immigration liaison officers covering 23 key source and transit countries in Europe. One of Reflex's three key objectives is to target human trafficking and recent successful operations have specifically targeted the trafficking of women from Eastern Europe.
	From the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we have funded a number of projects to help combat the trafficking of young women from Eastern Europe, including through providing advisors to the Bulgarian and Macedonian Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling Units, support for Polish-Ukrainian cross-border co-operation and a project which raises awareness in Lithuania about the dangers of bogus employment agencies and facilitators and provides assistance to victims of trafficking.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made on the introduction of no-fly zones in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: The Government of Sudan (GoS) signed the Abuja Security Protocol on 9 November 2004, which commits them to refrain from all hostile military overflights over Darfur. Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591, the African Union (AU) is requested to monitor compliance by GoS with this commitment. We continue to make clear to both the GoS and the rebels that they must abide fully by the commitments they have made, and the UN Security-Council Resolution.
	In early February the GoS announced that they would remove their Antonov aircraft from Darfur and refrain from hostile use of aircraft there. The Antonovs appear to have been withdrawn. Although helicopter gunships remain in Darfur, the AU and the UN Secretary-General report that the Government have not conducted any air attacks since January. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) raised this issue during his visit to Sudan on 12–14 June, where all sides agreed with this assessment.

Uzbekistan

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1583W, on Uzbekistan, what response the Uzbek Government made to the General Affairs and External Relations Council's call on 13 June 2005 on the Government of Uzbekistan to convene a parliamentary committee to investigate the unrest in that country; and what the policy of the UK Government is on the partnership and co-operation agreement.

Douglas Alexander: On 13 June 2005, the EU's General Affairs External Relations Council (GAERC) called on the Uzbek Government to allow an international independent inquiry into the events of 12–13 May 2005 in Andizhan. The Uzbek President, Islam Karimov, responded to the repeated calls of the international community to allow such an investigation by creating a parliamentary committee, and inviting diplomats from the US, France, Russia, China and Uzbekistan's regional neighbours to observe its work. We and our EU partners, however, considered this an inadequate response, on the grounds that the enquiry needed to be external and independent.
	The partnership and co-operation agreement (PCA) enshrines the basis of EU-Uzbekistan relations: mutual respect for the principles of democracy, rule of law, and human rights. There is growing evidence, such as the recent Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report, which draws on the testimony of eyewitnesses now in Kyrgyzstan, that the Uzbek authorities used disproportionate and indiscriminate force in Andizhan. As presidency of the EU, we and our partners have condemned the Uzbek leadership for breaching these principles.
	The EU is currently reviewing certain trade-related elements of the PCA, and cancelled the sub-committee on Trade and Investment meeting scheduled for 13 July 2005. We have also delayed consideration of President Karimov's March 2005 proposals for a further deepening of EU-Uzbek relations under the PCA.
	On 18 July 2005, the GAERC invited Mr. Jan Kubis, the EU's newly appointed special representative for Central Asia, to visit the region as soon as possible. The EU will consider further appropriate action in the light of Mr. Kubis' report. The GAERC will, in particular, keep under review the case for suspension of further elements of the PCA, the introduction of an embargo on exports to Uzbekistan of arms, military equipment which might be used for internal repression, as well as other targeted measures.

Voting Rights

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Commonwealth and (b) other countries have reciprocal measures in place with the United Kingdom to allow British nationals, when resident in that country, to vote in the (a) local and (b) national elections.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 19 July 2005
	The Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that all Commonwealth citizens who are lawfully resident in the UK are entitled to vote in parliamentary and local elections. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no information on the voting rights of British nationals in other Commonwealth or third countries. The voting rights of overseas nationals in Commonwealth countries are a matter for the country concerned. We are not aware of any formal reciprocal arrangements with any country.
	According to Article 19 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community (TEC) British nationals resident in another EU member state have the right to vote in local but not in national elections; they can also vote in elections for the European Parliament.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy to support the creation of a weapons of mass destruction-free zone in the Middle East.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 878W.

Zimbabwe

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which non-governmental and voluntary organisations the British Embassy in Harare relies for monitoring and intelligence on the ground when assessing the individual circumstances relating to claims by Zimbabwean nationals for asylum in the UK.

Ian Pearson: The British embassy in Harare liaises with a variety of well-respected and well-established NGOs in order to assess the overall human rights situation in Zimbabwe and individual cases of Zimbabweans seeking asylum in the UK. However, given the environment in which NGOs have to operate, and the hostile attitude of the Government of Zimbabwe towards those NGOs in the human rights sector, we judge that it would be detrimental to their work to identify the specific groups involved.

HOME DEPARTMENT

African Child Immigrants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children from Africa have been killed in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: In 2001–02 there were four victims of homicide, under 16 years of age, known to be African and one in 2002–03. There were none recorded in the years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2003–04.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in respect of persons with a known disability.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally about the characteristics of persons issued with an antisocial behaviour order.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been detained under Immigration Act 1971 powers in each of the last five years; at what stage of the asylum process they were detained; and for how long.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Act 1971 powers over a period of time is not available.
	It is not possible to say which stage of the asylum process people are at when they are detained. The decision to detain is made on a case by case basis and may be appropriate in one or more of the follow circumstances: to effect removal; to establish a person's identity and claim; where a person presents a risk of abscond or where the application is capable of being considered quickly.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers and the length of their detention is only available from December 2001. Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of people detained under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter and these can be broken down by the length of detention. This information can be found in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Consultation (Faith Communities)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consultations have been carried out by his Department with representatives of faith communities; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Faith communities have been involved in the following recent consultations carried out by the Home Office:
	Needs of Faith Communities in Major Emergencies
	Strength in Diversity
	Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century
	Ministers of Religion from Abroad: Consultation on the English
	Language Requirement
	Discrimination Legislation
	Incitement to Religious Hatred Legislation
	Compact- Stop and Search- Holocaust Memorial Day
	Citizens Day
	ID Cards Consultation
	Funding and Faith Monitoring
	Charities Bill

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has established the mechanism to monitor the use of new sentences under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 in order to assess the impact on correctional resources; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Use of the new sentences is being monitored through the regular data collections covering sentencing decisions, probation workloads and prison populations. In addition more in-depth analysis will be possible through two sample surveys of court decision making which will compare the position before and after the Criminal Justice Act 2003 measures were implemented.
	At this stage it is too early to assess the actual impact upon correctional resources.

Departmental Report (Production Cost)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total production cost of the Home Office Departmental Report 2004–05 was.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office Departmental Report 2004–05 (Cm 6528) sets out to Parliament how the Department has delivered its public services and how it achieved its key targets during 2004–05.
	The report also sets out the structure of the Department and summarises the plans for the next financial year—2005–06. The report reflects the Department's three pillars of responsibility, around which the ministerial team is organised. These are: policing, security, community safety and active communities; National Offender Management Service and the criminal justice system; and immigration, citizenship and nationality. Our activities and achievements are brigaded under the Department's strategic objectives.
	The report is available to other stakeholders including the public and is accessible via the Home Office website.
	The total production costs of the report incurred by the Department including design, layout and printing costs excluding VAT is £60,228 while the total VAT inclusive cost is £67,732. This does not included the potential cost of an HMTL web-version for the visually impaired, which it is intended to produce in the near future. Nor, as in previous years, does it include the costs of Home Office staff time involved in the production of the report as identifying these would involve disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 382W, on domestic violence, if he will make it his policy to extend the self-completion component of the British Crime Survey to adults over 59 years; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Respondents over the age of 60 are not asked to undertake British Crime Survey (BCS) self-completions. Traditionally, this has been because older people are sometimes less able or willing to use the laptop computers. There is evidence from the BCS that older respondents in the 16 to 59 age group are more likely to require interviewer assistance for the self-completion (see Budd and Mattinson, 2000). There is, however, also anecdotal evidence from interviewers and survey companies to suggest that this is increasingly less of a problem.
	However, the decision to limit the upper age range has remained, primarily for research reasons. Inclusion of the 60 and over age group in modules relating to 'interpersonal violence' issues (such as sexual victimisation) is methodologically problematic. The issue of 'elder abuse' (in common with the issue of child abuse) tends to be explored in a different context, using dedicated surveys.

Fraud Prevention

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Department has made with the second phase of its project, begun in November 2004, to explore the benefits, feasibility and legal impediments of sharing public sector deceased person information with other public agencies and organisations involved in fraud prevention; and whether he intends to bring forward legislation on these matters in the current parliamentary session.

Andy Burnham: The project is largely complete and results suggest that there would be benefits in sharing public sector deceased person information with the private sector, but this may be constrained by existing legislation. In light of this, the Office for National Statistics is exploring the extent to which information can be shared under existing powers and practices. It is anticipated that examination of these options will be completed by autumn 2005.

Gun Crime

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work undertaken with communities to tackle gun crime.

Hazel Blears: The Government consider that the involvement of communities in tackling gun crime is vital to resolving this complex issue. Organisations such as the Trident Independent Advisory Group have demonstrated their effectiveness in raising awareness in communities and of providing a means to ensure that the community plays a part in tackling the problem.
	Where funding is provided, projects are monitored to ensure that they have effectively carried out the work for which the grant was made.

Identity Cards

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will modify ministerial statements, public documents and answers to parliamentary questions which refer to the privacy protection afforded by the Data Protection Act 1998 in the context of the identity card to alert the reader to the fact that the European Commission has formally expressed an opinion that the Data Protection Act 1998 is a defective implementation of Directive 95/46/EC; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Identity Cards Bill is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998 and with Directive 95/46/EC—the provisions of which the Act (together with other provisions in UK law) accurately and proportionately reflects. We are in discussion with the European Commission about some issues in respect of the operation of the data protection regime in the UK, which result from their work in reviewing the way in which all member states have implemented the directive.

Identity Cards

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce an amendment to modify the Identity Card Bill so that personal information from the national register associated with the identity card cannot be used by any public authority for the purpose of the efficient and effective delivery of public services without the consent of the identity card holder; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Government will not introduce such an amendment. The Bill as drafted only allows information to be used without a person's consent by specified public authorities named on the face of the Bill, or others subsequently approved by Parliament. These arrangements will be subject to independent oversight.

Identity Cards

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the identity card will be a (a) contact and (b) contactless card.

Andy Burnham: It is currently planned that identity cards issued to British nationals eligible for a passport could be used by individuals for travel within Europe. In order to facilitate this, the card will need to meet standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which require the card to be contactless in order to be considered a valid travel document.
	In addition, we are also investigating whether it would be beneficial and cost effective to be compatible with other card reader national infrastructures, such as the Chip & PIN network, which requires contact card.
	Thus it is possible that an identity card will function as both a contact and contactless card.

Identity Theft

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1458W, on identity fraud/theft, what definition (a) he and (b) the Association for Payment Clearing Services uses of identity theft.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee, of which Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) is a member, has produced a high-level definition of identity crime, within which identity theft is defined broadly as occurring when sufficient information about an identity is obtained to facilitate identity fraud, irrespective of whether, in the case of an individual, the victim is alive or dead.
	For their purposes, APACS consider identity theft on cards as occurring when a criminal uses fraudulently obtained personal information to open or access card accounts in someone else's name.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department is making with the proposed introduction of the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: A NOMS Offender Management model has been developed to implement in both community and custodial sentences. A pathfinder in the north-west region has been operational since October 2004. The first evaluation report (Action Research) was published on 30 June 2005, and outlines the value of the north-west's testing of the model. The information gained is being fed into the implementation plans for prison and probation areas. A national offender manager and 10 regional offender managers have been appointed. The latter will play the main role in commissioning and will help to build partnership working locally.

Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the umbrellas purchased by the Passport Agency in the summer of 1999 for use by customers have been retained by the agency.

Charles Clarke: The UK Passport Service purchased 1,200 umbrellas in 1999 due to the abnormal situation of those calling personally at our offices having to queue in the rain. The appointment system that has operated in all offices since 2002 resulted in the umbrellas no longer being required and they were donated to the charity, Oxfam. In 2004–05, 94 per cent. of customers that applied personally were seen within 20 minutes of their appointment time. Customers' brief wait to be seen will normally be inside our office building.

Passports

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 911W, on passports, what the reasons are for the increase in the average unit cost of producing passports from 2005–06 to 2006–07.

Andy Burnham: The increase in the average unit cost of producing passports from 2005–06 to 2006–07 is due largely to the delivery of a number of key counter fraud initiatives in 2006–07 notably interviews for all first time adult applicants, linkages with other public sector databases and the full implementation of facial biometric passports.

Payroll Giving

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to advertise and promote recent changes to the Payroll Giving Grants programme.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 18 July 2005
	There have been no changes to the Payroll Giving Grants Programme since its launch in January 2005. The programme is being promoted in a number of ways including: distribution of promotional materials; extensive media coverage; and the creation of an awards scheme.

Police

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths in police custody occurred in (a) West Yorkshire police authority and (b) the UK in each year since 2001.

Hazel Blears: The total number of deaths of people during or following police custody are as follows:
	
		
			  West Yorkshire police area England and Wales(32) 
		
		
			 2001–02 1 (0) 21 (3) 
			 2002–03 1 (0) 40 (8) 
			 2003–04 0 38 (7) 
		
	
	(32) The statistics for deaths in police custody are collated for the period 1 April to 31 March.
	Note:
	The figures in brackets indicate the deaths that occurred within police stations.
	The Home Office do not collate statistics on deaths during or following police custody for Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department gives to police forces on the employment of interpreters (a) from the National Register of Public Service Interpreters and (b) engaged through agencies.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 July 2005
	The Home Office has issued no advice on the employment of interpreters, which is an operational matter for chief officers of police.

Police

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 144W, when the Metropolitan Police commenced checking the list of names; how many officers are in the team which is doing the checking, broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Since the War Crimes Unit was disbanded in 1999, the Metropolitan Police has continued to investigate all allegations of war crimes as and when they have arisen. Following receipt of the most recent allegations, it has now deployed a team of officers to investigate suspected Nazi War Criminals residing in the UK; this includes checking the list of 75 names against existing material. The team consists of a Senior Investigating Officer, an Investigating Officer, two Detective Sergeants, two Detective Constables, a Police Analyst and an Indexer.

Pre-sentence Reports

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where the information about convicted prisoners in pre-sentence reports originates.

Fiona Mactaggart: Pre-sentence reports (PSR) are informed by the Crown Prosecution Service court papers and there will normally be at least one face-to-face interview with the offender. Where the offender is already known to the probation service, probation files may also be used. Those consulted during the completion of a PSR will vary according to the needs of the case but might include social services, local authorities or other criminal justice agencies.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the proportion of ethnic minority staff in public prisons were at 1 July.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 14 July 2005
	At 30 June 2005, 5.6 per cent. of staff within public sector prisons, who have declared their ethnicity, were recorded as being from black and other minority ethnic groups.

Retina Identification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of retina identification where a person is wearing contact lenses.

Andy Burnham: The Home Office is not proposing to use retina identification but may deploy iris identification.
	We do not believe that iris identification will present difficulties for the average contact lens wearer.

Secure Training Centres

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answers of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 790W and 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 791W, what the reasons were for the discrepancies in figures for total hospital admissions compared with admissions to hospital for illnesses and non-accidental injuries in Rainsbrook in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and in Hassenfield in 2003 and 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The answer to question 1567 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 790W gave total figures for admissions to hospital. The answer to question 1568 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 791W provided details of young people admitted because of illness and those admitted for treatment of non-accidental injuries. The difference between the figures in the answer to question 1567 and the totalled figures in the answer to question 1568 is accounted for by: (a) the additional category of admissions for the treatment of accidental injuries; and (b) the fact that one of the young people from Rainsbrook who went to hospital because of illness in 2004 was admitted twice. A full breakdown of admissions by establishment is given in the following table:
	
		Hospital admissions of secure training centre trainees 2001–05, broken down by reason for admission
		
			  Admissions to hospital 2001 to 2005 
			 STC 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005(33) 
		
		
			 Due to illness  
			 Medway 2 1 1 (34)2 (35)2 
			 Rainsbrook 1 2 2 (36)5 1 
			 Hassockfield 0 1 0 1 0 
			 Oakhill(37) — — — 0 0 
			   
			 Due to non accidental injuries  
			 Medway 0 1 1 1 0 
			 Rainsbrook 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Hassockfield 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Oakhill(37) — — — 0 0 
			 Due to accidental injuries  
			 Medway 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rainsbrook 0 2 1 0 0 
			 Hassockfield 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Oakhill(37) — — — 0 0 
		
	
	(33) Up to 27 May.
	(34) Includes one termination of pregnancy.
	(35) Includes one termination of pregnancy.
	(36) One young person was admitted twice.
	(37) Oakhill opened 19 August 2004.

Sentencing

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people remanded into custody were given community penalties in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many convicted but unsentenced people remanded into custody were given a custodial sentence in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many people remanded into custody were given a custodial sentence in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many people remanded into custody in each of the last five years were (a) acquitted and (b) had cases which were not proceeded with.

Fiona Mactaggart: The final court outcomes for persons proceeded against and remanded in custody at some stage in magistrates courts and the Crown court in each year from 1999 to 2003 is provided in the table. Information relating to the number of offenders committed for sentence to the Crown court from 1999 to 2003 is also provided.
	
		Persons on remand committed for sentence to the Crown court who were given custodial sentences, England and Wales
		
			 Persons (Thousand) 
			  Final court outcome 
			  Remanded in custody(38) Of which: Immediate custody 
		
		
			 1999 7.4 5.6 
			 2000 6.8 5.3 
			 2001 6.3 4.8 
			 2002 7.6 5.7 
			 2003 7.5 5.4 
		
	
	(38) Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Court Service Computer System

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost has been to date of the computer system Xhibit used by the Court Service in Lincoln; whether she plans to introduce the system in other courts; what estimate she has made of the total cost of rolling out such a system in England and Wales; what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) reliability of such a system; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: XHIBIT (eXchange Hearing Information By Internet Technology) was first used at Lincoln Crown Court on 11 April 2005. The Department is paying a fixed cost for the development and introduction of XHIBIT to all courts in England and Wales, and so is not charged on an individual court basis. XHIBIT will be in use in all 101 Crown court centres across England and Wales by April next year. The total charge to introduce and operate the system will be £20 million.
	The decision to introduce nationally was based on pilots in Essex and at Snaresbrook Crown Court. These pilots, along with an assessment of the first 11 courts to receive XHIBIT, is showing that the new system is making Crown courts more effective. For example, it reduces the clerical effort required to capture and distribute hearing information, such as, results, bail orders and imprisonment orders. Previously, such information took days to reach other criminal justice agencies, now they can get it in minutes allowing them to operate better. Local assessment of XHIBIT's effectiveness in Lincoln is scheduled for September 2005. XHIBIT's reliability is currently above that which the supplier is contracted to provide. This is monitored on a daily basis by the XHIBIT National Support Centre.

Data Protection Act

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will introduce legislation to modify the Data Protection Act 1998 so that (a) the enforcement powers of the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 are equivalent to those of most other European Data Protection Commissioners, (b) the definition of personal data is broadened so that it reflects that of the Directive 95/46/EC and the intent of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, (c) the provisions in the Data Protection Act 1998 which pertain to the transfer of personal data outside the European Economic Area reflect those provisions in most data protection laws enacted by other member states of the European Union, (d) there is a guarantee of the right of access to personal data in the UK, (e) moderately structured manual records about employees are reclassified as accessible records so that such records qualify for the protection afforded by the Act and (f) CCTV systems which record the actions of identifiable individuals are subject to data protection; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: We currently have no plans to modify the Data Protection Act 1998, as the Act properly and proportionately implements Directive 95/46/EC. The Act includes the powers available to the Information Commissioner; the definition of personal data (which is already relatively broad, as the directive requires it to be); the provisions relating to transfer of personal data outside the European Economic Area; the guarantee of the right of subject access (except where the Act provides legitimate exemptions, as allowed by the directive); and the position of structured manual records (where the directive makes clear that a high degree of structure must be involved). The full provisions of the Act also apply to CCTV systems recording the actions of identifiable individuals, as such information is clearly personal data within the meaning of the legislation.

Safety Cameras

David Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance is given to (a) the Crown Prosecution Service and (b) the Court Service with regard to participation in safety camera partnerships.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	Safety Camera Partnerships consist of local authorities, the police, the magistrates courts and other local stakeholders.
	The Department for Transport issues a Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales which defines the rules and guidelines that partnerships are required to follow in order to participate in the netting off arrangement. The Handbook for 2005–06 can be found in the Library of the House and on the Department for Transport website, www.dft.gov.uk. No further guidance beyond that in the Handbook is issued by the Department to the Crown Prosecution Service or Courts Service.

TRANSPORT

A14 (Kettering)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 612W, on traffic statistics, what options the Highways Agency is considering for resolving the bottleneck on the A14 around Kettering; and what the timetable is for feasibility studies.

Stephen Ladyman: The Secretary of State's July 2003 response to the London to South Midlands Multi Modal Study recommendations to widen the A14 through the East Midlands to dual three lanes, tasked the Highways Agency (HA) with further work on the A14 Kettering Bypass section of the route.
	The HA has commissioned an options study, and is currently gathering information and constructing a transport model for the area. The study is expected to report in February 2006. HA will then present the study's findings in spring/summer 2006 for a decision on how to proceed.
	The traffic data requested are as follows. Further counts are being undertaken, which will be presented with the study.
	Traffic counts
	Traffic data are measured by automatic counters embedded in the A14 carriageway at three locations in the greater Kettering area. The data for the two most recent years are provided as follows, as average annual weekday traffic, rounded figures.
	
		
			  Welford (A14 J0–1) Kettering (A14 J8–9) Thywell (A14 J11–12) 
		
		
			 2003 44,700 70,000 44,200 
			 2004 47,300 70,900 45,500 
			 Increase +2,600 +900 +1,300

Aviation (Complaints)

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints his Department has received about (a) night flights, (b) aircraft noise and (c) aircraft pollution in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) airport, (ii) Government Office Region and (iii) constituency.

Alistair Darling: Complaints about night flights, aircraft noise and pollution (as distinct from representations about policy) are properly a matter for individual airports, many of which regularly publish their own summary statistics of complaints or enquiries. The Department also receives a number of representations direct from members of the public or via Members of Parliament and, in responding, is able to comment on the Government's overall policy on these matters. The Department does not operate a 'complaints database' and could not provide information in the form requested.

Bus Lanes (Motorcycles)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will amend his Department's Local Transport Note 1/97, Keeping Buses Moving to take account of schemes which allow motorcycles to use bus lanes.

Karen Buck: Although Local Transport Note 1/97 recommends against generally allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes because of concerns for the safety of other road users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians, and of motorcyclists themselves, it remains open to local authorities to permit this if they consider it appropriate. The Department will be reviewing the Local Transport Note advice but is awaiting the results of monitored trials by Transport for London before doing so.
	Initial indications from the trials were that the number of collisions involving motorcycles during bus lane operating times increased when motorcycles were allowed in. Transport for London has extended the duration of the trial to gather more robust data before drawing conclusions. It is anticipated that 36-months of casualty data will be available for the trials in March 2006.

Container Handling Capacity

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects there to be a shortfall in the UK's container handling capacity in (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has not produced such an assessment and it is primarily for individual ports to assess their capacity requirements against short-term traffic expectations.
	The Department has now commissioned consultants to produce national port traffic forecasts looking ahead to 2030, covering container and other major traffic sectors.

Delayed Traffic Light Phasing

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of delayed traffic light phasing on (a) traffic management, (b) pedestrian safety, (c) noise pollution and (d) air quality; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: Urban traffic control techniques are a key part of the delivery of sustainable local transport. The introduction of traffic signal control at individual junctions or over wide areas often requires a balance of the conflicting demands of vehicular traffic capacity and provision for vulnerable users such as pedestrians.
	Studies have shown that good, coordinated traffic signal operation can reduce delays to traffic which in turn can lead to reductions in pollution. Benefits will vary from site to site but typical delay reductions due to coordinated operation under the SCOOT urban traffic control system, used in many UK towns and cities, compared with un-coordinated operation were measured as 23 per cent. in Worcester and 30 per cent. in Southampton.
	The Department commissioned a research project in 2003 to explore how casualty rates for pedestrians and cyclists are affected by traffic signal control strategies ways of operating. It is intended that the findings of the project will form good practice guidance for local highway authorities who have responsibility for managing traffic in urban areas. The project is due to report around the end of 2005.

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Karen Buck: Information in respect of companies from which the Department for Transport has purchased goods and services with a total value in excess of £1 million has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Separate figures are provided for the central Department and each executive agency. Details of companies where spend by the central Department and executive agencies is greater than £1 million in aggregate, but less than £1 million separately, are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff/Targets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: The information is available in table C of Civil Service Statistics 2004 which is available on the internet at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management _information/statistical_information/statistics/publica tions/xls/report_2004/table_c.xls.
	This table shows the numbers of staff by Department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are also available in the Library.

Departmental Staff/Targets

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the targets that his Department has set for itself during the next 12 months.

Karen Buck: Public service agreement (PSA) targets are set every two years as part of the spending review. The Department's current set of PSA targets were set in spending review 2004 and came into effect in April 2005. All PSA targets and performance against them are reported in our annual reports and autumn performance reports, as well as on the Department's website.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how long the hydrogen fuel cell buses pilot scheme has been running; what the cost is; when the pilot is due to end; and what estimate has been made of the cost of (a) purchasing, (b) running and (c) maintaining (i) a hydrogen fuel cell bus and (ii) an ordinary bus.

Stephen Ladyman: The trial began in January 2004 and is due to finish in December 2005, although London and seven other cities taking part in similar trials are currently in discussions with the European Commission about extending the project for a further year.
	We estimate that the total costs of the London trial will amount to over £3 million. Costs have been shared among a number of partners. The European Commission provided just over £1 million of support, and the UK Government provided just under £500,000 through the Department for Transport's New Vehicle Technology Fund programme. The trial was overseen by Transport for London and a number of other project partners provided financial and other support including London Bus Services Ltd., FirstGroup, Daimler-Chrysler, Ballard, BP and the Energy Savings Trust.
	Comparing the purchase, maintenance and running costs of the hydrogen fuel cell buses against conventionally fuelled buses is neither straightforward nor meaningful. The hydrogen fuel cell buses are prototype vehicles which are not mass produced or commercially available. The approximate cost of each fuel cell bus was around £900,000, which is some seven times the cost of a similar, new diesel bus, but this cost included maintenance costs for the duration of the trial. As to running costs, the hydrogen fuel was granted a fuel duty exemption for the duration of the trial, making a direct comparison with the costs of diesel fuel difficult.

Investment Priorities

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about his priorities in investment over the next year.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport's investment priorities for next year were published on 4 July 2005 in the DfT business plan, Delivering better transport: Priorities for 2005–06 to 2007–08." The plan was developed in the context of our long-term strategy which was published in the 2004 Future of Transport" white paper.
	Priority projects for the plan period include the completion of section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, widening key sections of the M25, and progressing the West Coast Main Line upgrade.

Light Rail Schemes

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the light rail schemes which have commenced construction since 1997.

Alistair Darling: The following light rail schemes have commenced construction since 1997:
	Manchester Metrolink Phase II (to Eccles), 1997.
	Tyne and Wear Metro Sunderland extension, 2000.
	Nottingham Express Transit , 2000.
	Docklands Light Railway extension to London City Airport , 2002.
	Docklands Light Railway extension to Woolwich Arsenal, 2005.
	Some advanced works have also been undertaken since 1997 for the following proposed schemes: Manchester Metrolink Phase III extensions; Merseytram; Leeds Supertram.

Lorry Road User Charge

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects a Lorry Road User Charge to commence operation in the UK.

Alistair Darling: I announced to the House on 5 July that we will take forward work on distance-based lorry charging as part of our wider work on road pricing. We will continue to work with the haulage industry to ensure that its needs are represented as we develop a national road pricing system.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when the (a) M1, (b) M18 and (c) M62 motorways between London and Hull will be devoid of roadworks;
	(2)  how many stretches of motorway on the (a) M1, (b) M18 and (c) M62 between London and Hull have been affected by (i) lane closures and (ii) motorway repair or construction work in the last month; for what reason such works were not phased to take place consecutively; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his policy is regarding the phasing of roadworks on motorways so that those undertaking long journeys are not faced with repeated motorway lane closures.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has a duty to keep the network under review and to carry out works to ensure the safety of the travelling public. This will include planned maintenance and improvements as well as emergency repairs.
	The following stretches of the motorway on the M1, M18 and M62 between London and Hull were affected by (i) lane closures and (ii) motorway repair or construction work in the last month:
	
		M1 Motorway
		
			 Date/Time Location Description 
		
		
			 29 June 2005 21.00–04.00 M1 J32 Northbound Lane 3 closure for barrier repairs 
			
			 3 July 2005 10.12–11.05 M1 J25–24A, Southbound, Nottinghamshire Lanes 2 and 3 closed after Southbound entry sliproad—Road Traffic Collision involving three vehicles 
			 12 July 2005 22.00–06.00 M1 J32 Northbound Hardshoulder and Lane 1 closure to install South Yorkshire CCTV. 
			 12 July 2005 22.00–06.00 M1 J32 Southbound Hardshoulder and Lane 1 closure to install South Yorkshire CCTV 
			 12 July 2005 20.23–05.52 M1 J25 ½ mile before J25 Southbound Lane 1 and 2 closed road traffic collision involving heavy goods vehicle 
			 13 July 2005 21.00–04.00 M1 J31 Northbound and Southbound Lane 3 closure for barrier repairs. 
			 4 May-end August M1 J29–30 Northbound and Southbound Major maintenance work commenced on 4 May and is due for completion by the end of August. The work involves the replacement of worn out carriageway. Three lanes are maintained at peak times in the day and mainly two at night with certain works reducing this to one lane at night. All the work is done at night. 
			 14 June-14 July M1 Junctions 8–19 59 Planned closures of varying lengths . All lane closures were overnight and mainly for routine maintenance works (lighting, signs, inspections etc.) 
		
	
	
		M18 Motorway
		
			 Date/Time Location Description 
		
		
			 13 June 2005 09.30–15.30 M18 Jet 4 Southbound entry Lane 2 closure to carry out barrier repairs 
			 13 June 2005 21.00–04.00 J1 Northbound and Southbound Lane 3 closure to carry out barrier repairs 
			 17 June 2005 10.00–15.30 J7 Northbound Hardshoulder and Lane 1 closure to carry out a Principal Inspection 
			 27–30 June 2005 21.00–06.00 M18 J3–5 Northbound and Southbound Various lane closures to install Cyclic and Road Studs 
			 8–14 July 2005 20.00–06.00 M18 J7–6 Northbound and Southbound Various lane closures to carry out concrete repairs 
			 11 July 2005 09.30–15.30 M18 J3 Southbound Hardshoulder closure to carry out barrier repairs 
			 11 July 2005 09.30–15.30 M18 J5 Northbound Hardshoulder closure to carry out barrier repairs 
			 12 July 2005 22.00–06.00 M18 J3 Northbound Hardshoulder and Lane 1 closure to install South Yorkshire CCTV 
			 12 July 2005 22.00–06.00 J6-Southbound Entry Hardshoulder and Lane 1 closure to install South Yorkshire CCTV 
			 13 July 2005 21.00–04.00 M18 J2 Roundabout Lane 2 closure to carry out barrier repairs. 
		
	
	
		M62 Motorway
		
			 Date/Time Location Description 
		
		
			 1–30 June 2005 M62 J37–38 Gilberdyke to Newport Various 24 hour lane closures major works to resurface of concrete carriageway 
			 6–30 June 2005 09.30–15.30 and 21.00–04.00 M62 J34–38 Lane 3 and hardshoulder closures 
			 17 June 2005 09.30–15.30 M62 J37–36 Westbound Hardshoulder closure to carry out barrier repairs 
			 29 June 2005 09.30–15.30 and 21.00–04.00 M62 J36 Eastbound and Westbound Lane 3 closure to carry out barrier repairs 
			 9 July 2005 07.00–11.00 M62 J36 Eastbound and Westbound Lane 3 closure to carry out barrier repairs 
		
	
	The need to carry out works in a way that ensures the safety of the travelling public means that it is not always possible to carry out planned works consecutively.
	To minimise disruption all planned routine maintenance works to the motorway network are carried out at night, when traffic volumes are at their lowest. These works are generally phased so that there are at least 10 kilometres between each set of works. Roadworks are also planned so that the length of road restricted by traffic management is generally no greater than 4.5 kilometres in length. There will be times when the application of this restriction may be untenable or unsafe and in such cases the impact on the travelling public is of primary concern when considering whether adjacent schemes should go ahead concurrently.
	It is sometimes necessary to close lanes on the motorway at short notice due to incidents. The Agency aims to keep these closures and disruption to a minimum. Likewise when major maintenance is necessary lanes are closed over a period of time. Any associated routine maintenance works are undertaken during these periods in order to avoid further inconvenience to motorists and to minimise the safety risks for our workforce.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in the last 12 months concerning the rules and restrictions which are in place in respect of motorway service areas; what plans he has to change them; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: In the last 12 months the Department has received representations concerning the regulations governing motorway service areas from a number of bodies including: the motorway service area operators, the road haulage industry, the RAC foundation, the AA Motoring Trust and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why fencing is being erected adjacent to the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway, north of Junction 11 where the motorway abuts open fields.

Stephen Ladyman: The fencing in question is immediately to the north of housing in Leagrave. It is being provided as part of the second phase of a scheme specifically designed to bring effective noise protection to residential properties in Luton adjacent to M1 between junctions 10 and 12.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway was closed between junctions 34 and 35 on 7 July; for how long the motorway was closed; and on whose authority it was closed.

Stephen Ladyman: The northbound carriageway of the M1 between junctions 34 and 35 was closed from 11 pm on 7 July until 5 am on 8 July in connection with ongoing works at Tinsley Viaduct. The closure took place to enable concreting works in the hard shoulder to be carried out safely and was authorised and agreed by the Highways Agency.

Moving Vehicles (Music Volume)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to control the playing of loud music from a moving vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Legislation already exists to deal with this problem. Under regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, it is an offence to use a motor vehicle on the road in such a manner as to cause any excessive noise which could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care on the part of the driver. Enforcement of these powers is a matter for the police.

Passenger Transport (Fuel Consumption)

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average fuel consumption in miles per gallon per passenger was for (a) commercial buses, (b) trains and (c) UK airlines for typical load factors and for typical journey distances for the most recent year for which information on each mode is available.

Karen Buck: It is only possible to give broad estimates of fuel consumption per passenger mile since the estimates depend on assumed passenger loading factors and average fuel consumption of each mode of transport.
	
		
			 Transport mode Load factor (passengers per vehicle) Fuel consumption (miles per gallon per passenger) 
		
		
			 Buses (national) 9 98 
			 Passenger rail (diesel) 90 182 
			 Air long haul (39)300 66 
			 Air short haul (39)100 40 
		
	
	(39) Approximately.
	Fuel consumption estimates for buses are based on National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) estimates combined with road passenger kilometres taken from the 2002 Transport Statistics for Great Britain. Rail factors are also based on NAEI factors for diesel trains and the Department for Transport's statistics on rail passenger kilometres. Air factors are taken from DETR's Company GHG Reporting Manual 1999. Long haul journeys refer to average journeys of 6,500 km and short haul refers to journeys of around 500 km.
	All data has been converted into miles per gallon using information on the carbon content and density of the different fuel types.

Public Transport

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many extra (a) bus routes, (b) train services, (c) community bus services and (d) other forms of public transport provision have been provided in (i) St. Albans and (ii) Hertfordshire since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: We do not have information on the number of new bus routes in Hertfordshire provided by bus operators on a commercial basis or by the local authority using Revenue Support Grant or other funding.
	Hertfordshire has however been able to use the Department's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, first introduced in 1998, to provide rural bus services. The county's allocation for 2005–06 is £709,000, which is currently supporting 14 bus services, three of which serve the St. Albans district council area.
	In addition between 1998 and 2003 the Department's Rural Bus Challenge scheme awarded funding for nine projects in Hertfordshire, totalling over £1.6 million. Three of these were for community transport schemes and one provided services in the St. Albans area. Neither of the above bus grants scheme were available in 1997.
	Hertfordshire has also benefited from the continuing implementation of the West Coast Project with improved intercity journey times from Watford Junction, new rolling stock on West Coast trains and Silverlink, and longer platforms capable of taking 12 car trains.
	The Thameslink service from St. Albans to central London, the Monday-Friday morning peak service has since 1997 been enhanced from nine to 11 trains per hour, and the Sunday service from four to six trains per hour.

Public Transport

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any feasibility study has been done (a) by his Department and (b) bodies working in conjunction with the Department on the practicality of installing devices capable of detecting the presence of explosives at underground or railway stations.

Karen Buck: The Department keeps developments on current and possible future protective security regimes including screening technologies under constant review. It is not our policy to comment on such detail.

Public Transport

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the Israeli government concerning security on public transport systems.

Karen Buck: The Department has discussed a wide range of transport security issues with Israel and other governments over the years. It is not our policy to comment on such detail.

Railways

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to award freight grants to encourage hauliers to place more freight on rail.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport currently operates three schemes to encourage modal shift from road to rail. These are as follows:
	Track Access Grant:
	Provides revenue support for the movement of non-containerised goods by rail.
	Company Neutral Revenue Support:
	Provides revenue support for the movement of containerised traffic by rail.
	The Department has made available funding of approximately £25 million per annum for 2005–06 and 2006–07 to support both of the above schemes. Both of the schemes remain open for new applications.
	The third scheme is the Freight Facilities Grant, which is available for the construction of rail facilities to enable the movement of primary aggregates by rail instead of road. This scheme is currently funded through DEFRA's Aggregate's Levy Sustainability Fund and we expect up to £2 million to be available for rail over the next two years.

Railways

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase investment to the Coventry and Nuneaton Rail Line.

Derek Twigg: I understand that three separate studies are currently considering transport provision along this corridor. These are: the Light Rapid Transit study being led by Centra; the Coventry, Solihull, Warwickshire Transport and Regeneration Study; and a Heavy Rail study commissioned by Warwickshire county council. Each of these pieces of work is nearing completion. It would be premature for me to form a view on the necessary investment or otherwise in advance any consideration of these studies.

Railways

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of railway in England will be closed in the next (a) three and (b) five years; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: It is not possible to provide the figures in the format requested, as there are currently no new proposals to close any railway lines.

Railways

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Association of Train Operating Companies on congestion charging for rail travel.

Derek Twigg: No representations on congestion charging for rail travel have been received from the Association of Train Operating Companies.

Regulation

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time taken by his Department to draft regulations following primary legislation was in 2004–05.

Karen Buck: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Renewables Transport Fuel Obligation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to apply the Renewables Transport Fuel Obligation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are currently considering whether an obligation might be an appropriate mechanism to support the introduction of renewable road transport fuels, but no decision has yet been taken.

Road Haulage Forum

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Road Haulage Forum has met in each year since its establishment.

Alistair Darling: The Road Haulage Forum has met on 17 occasions to date, as shown in the table.
	
		
			  Road haulage forum meetings 
		
		
			 1999 8 April, 19 July, 6 September, 8 December 
			 2000 9 February, 17 April, 26 July, 19 October, 14 November 
			 2001 19 February, 5 July 
			 2002 28 January, 23 October 
			 2003 11 September 
			 2004 26 April, 9 December 
			 2005 29 June

Roads Budget (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much central funding Milton Keynes unitary authority has received for its roads budget in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport has approved approximately £18.6 million of funding support for Milton Keynes unitary authority between April 1997 and March 2005 in local transport capital settlements. Approximately £10.9 million has been for capital highways maintenance and £7.7 million for local improvements to the road network and roads based public transport.
	In addition central funding support for services, including routine highways services, is provided through revenue support grant. This is not allocated by the Government between individual council services.
	The funding support provided directly to Milton Keynes unitary authority through the local transport capital settlement for each year is shown in the following table. It has been for Milton Keynes unitary authority to determine exactly how these allocations are spent, in line with its local transport plan and priorities.
	
		Milton Keynes unitary authority local transport capital settlement
		
			 £000 
			  Capital highways maintenance Integrated transport block Major schemes Total 
		
		
			 1997–98 173 60 0 233 
			 1998–99 694 169 0 863 
			 1999–2000 920 523 0 1,443 
			 2000–01 1,279 729 0 2,008 
			 2001–02 2,069 1,600 0 3,669 
			 2002–03 2,194 1,601 0 3,795 
			 2003–04 1,645 1,510 0 3,155 
			 2004–05 1,920 1,555 0 3,475

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport was established following machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002.
	The annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office in November 2004 contains reported sickness absence data for the calendar year 2003 for the Department and its agencies.
	Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. Reports for earlier years are available on the Cabinet Office website.
	From our internal recording process the total number of days recorded as sick across the Department including its agencies for 2004 is 175,860.
	The Department is committed to managing sick absence effectively and to putting in place the recommendations of the Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector" report. The DfT board takes an active interest in the issue of attendance management.

South West Trains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change the process for awarding the franchise held by South West Trains.

Derek Twigg: The award of the South Western franchise to replace the existing South West Trains and Island Line franchises in February 2007 will follow a similar process to that adopted for the Greater Western and Thameslink/Great Northern replacements currently out to market. The process is set out in Franchise Replacement Process, June 2005", which is available on the SRA website.

Speed Cameras

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed related accidents occurred in (a) each of the three years before and (b) each year since the introduction of the speed camera at the southern end of the M11.

Stephen Ladyman: Tables highlighting accident data for the southbound carriageway of the M11 between Junctions 5 and 4 in the location of the camera are shown in the table. The tables show speed related injury accidents since 1998, three years prior to installation of the camera, and for three years after its introduction. The camera was installed in May 2001.
	
		Before the camera was installed
		
			  Number of accidents Number speed related Speed accident injuries 
		
		
			 From Sept 1998 3 1 1 slight 
			 1999 3 3 2 slight, 1 severe 
			 2000 4 1 1 slight 
			 To May 2001 0 0 0 
			 Total 10 5 5 
		
	
	
		After the camera was installed
		
			  Number of accidents Number speed related Speed accident injuries 
		
		
			 From June 2001 5 3 2 slight, 1 severe 
			 2002 5 3 1 slight, 2 severe 
			 2003 4 1 1 severe 
			 To August 2004 4 4 3 slight, 1 severe 
			 Total 18 11 11 
		
	
	Although numbers of speed related accidents have increased since the installation of the camera, traffic flows have also significantly increased on this section of M11. However, because there has been a significant growth in traffic over this period the accident rate on this section has dropped overall, and is lower than the national average for a motorway.
	The need for further safety measures on this section of road is continuously reviewed as is the need for the existing speed camera.

Speed Cameras

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers have been penalised in the North Wales Police force area in each of the last three years as a result of detection by (a) fixed and (b) mobile speed cameras.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not record fines paid, by camera type (fixed/mobile) but only records total fines received. In the last three audited years, the number of fixed penalty fines paid as a result of detections by safety cameras in the North Wales police force area was:
	2001–02: 10,813
	2002–03: 43,484
	2003–04: 56,247

Tonnage Tax

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the possible effects on the UK economy of a requirement for beneficiaries of the tonnage tax to employ only UK officers and crew.

Stephen Ladyman: No such assessment has been made. Under EU anti-discrimination law, we cannot reserve jobs solely for UK seafarers but have to include European economic area nationals as well.

Uninsured Drivers

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to use (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (b) motor insurance databases to reduce the number of uninsured drivers.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the report on uninsured driving by Professor David Greenaway we commenced actions which will use both the DVLA and motor insurance databases to tackle the problem of uninsured driving.
	The police already make considerable use of the motor insurance database (MID) to help detect uninsured driving. However we introduced in the Serious and Organised Crimes Act 2005 provisions to improve police access to the MID. This will enable them to have data on uninsured vehicles for use with their automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) equipment. This should significantly improve their detection capabilities. We plan to have the necessary regulations in place by autumn this year.

Vehicle Registration

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2005, Official Report, column 613W, on Vehicle Registration, what changes there have been to the requirement or option to submit V28 forms to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency since 1996.

Stephen Ladyman: No changes have been made in this period to the requirement for local authorities or other enforcement agencies to notify DVLA on the V28 form of abandoned vehicles. The form was modified earlier this year to remove the option to notify a vehicle as scrapped". This follows the introduction of the End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 which require cars and light vans to be disposed of through authorised treatment facilities.

Yellow School Buses

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the yellow school bus pilots on traffic congestion.

Karen Buck: We know from our evaluation of various small-scale yellow and other dedicated school bus schemes that well-designed schemes have the potential to reduce car dependency for journeys to school and the traffic congestion that results from this. However, care needs to be taken to ensure that schemes are appropriate to local circumstances and, in particular, that they do not reduce levels of walking or cycling or undermine the viability of important commercial bus services.
	We approved £18.7 million funding for a much larger yellow bus scheme serving schools in West Yorkshire as part of the local transport settlement for 2004–05. We are currently working closely with West Yorkshire PTE to evaluate the impacts of this scheme on a range of issues including traffic levels around schools and the number of pupils transferring from car to bus.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children in Poverty

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children of school age in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK live in a family where neither parent works.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about children living in families where neither parent works. (12067)
	The attached table shows the number and proportion of children, aged five to fifteen, in families with no resident parent in work for the three-month period ending November 2004. The figures include the children of married or cohabiting couples where neither parent is working, and those living with a lone parent who is not working.
	These estimates are based on Labour Force Survey data which, as with any sample survey, is subject to sampling variability.
	
		Children of school age(40) living in families with no resident parent in work(41); September to November 2004; not seasonally adjusted
		
			  Level (Thousand) Proportion(42) (percentage) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom   
			 Children of couples where neither parent is working 364 6 
			 Children of lone parents who are not working 922 46 
			 Children in all families where no resident parent is working 1,286 16 
			
			 North East   
			 Children of couples where neither parent is working 19 9 
			 Children of lone parents who are not working 50 50 
			 Children in all families where no resident parent is working 69 23 
			
			 South Tyneside(43)   
			 Children of couples where neither parent is working 6 34 
			 Children of lone parents who are not working 3 51 
			 Children in all families where no resident parent is working 9 39 
			
			 Jarrow(43)   
			 Children of couples where neither parent is working 3 33 
			 Children of lone parents who are not working 2 52 
			 Children in all families where no resident parent is working 5 38 
		
	
	(40) Children aged 5 to 15 years.
	(41) Estimates have not been adjusted for families in which the economic status of one or both parents is unknown.
	(42) Percentages are based on families including couples and lone parents.
	(43) Estimates for South Tyneside and Jarrow are based on smaller sample sizes and are therefore subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey

Consultants

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which consultants have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: It is not possible to break this figure down into separate years because contracts can span more than one year and be extended due to delays. In the last three financial years the Department for Work and Pensions has employed consultants from the following 152 suppliers:
	Booz Allen Hamilton
	Cap Gemini UK plc
	PA Consulting
	IBM
	Deloitte MCS Ltd.
	ASE
	Shreeveport Management Consultancy
	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
	Capita
	CGEY
	Accenture
	Computer People
	KPMG
	PKF
	Cathedral
	Robson Rhodes/PWC
	IT NET UK Ltd.
	IT NET: French Thornton
	Experian Ltd.
	Fujitsu
	SAIC Consulting
	Buckner & Co.
	EDS
	Odgers Ray and Berndtson
	HEDRA plc
	Bird & Bird
	Yale
	Gartner
	David Pearl Assoc.
	Cornwell Management Consultants plc
	Parity
	Oakleigh
	Pearn Kandola Occupational Psychologists
	Lorien
	Kudos Mentis
	Arnold & Porter
	Hays
	Other
	Setanta
	DBI
	Anite
	Peter Hyde Consulting
	Dibb Lupton Alsop
	Rocksharp
	Methods
	BMRB
	Triad (Generic Software)
	Employer's Forum on Disability
	Walker—Cox
	Cavendish Consulting
	Quontan Ltd.
	Trans4mation
	A Robinson Associates
	WS Atkins
	QinetiQ
	Whitehead Mann Ltd.
	RDL
	Mentis/Westminster Court
	EDI
	Impact Plus plc
	TMG Human Resources
	Keith Elliott
	Jenkins Consulting Ltd.
	Origo
	Experience Corp.
	Rowland Fisher Lexon Consulting
	Jobs for the Future
	Bevan Brittan
	S & J Associates
	Oracle
	MJS Business Consultancy
	Penna consulting
	Learning Laboratory
	Nigel Heslop
	Alexander Hughes
	LearningCortex Ltd.
	Ernst & Young
	Atos Origin
	RFLC
	Bywater plc
	Compass Management Consulting Ltd.
	James Clark & Partners
	Informed Solutions
	OPTA
	SAS
	Rocket Science
	Victoria Preston
	Channel Dynamics
	CESG
	The Development Partnership
	Workbox
	Maxxim Consultancy
	Pira International
	Shared Intelligence
	Exor
	Rapport Communication
	Nudl
	Cassin Scott
	MORI
	Lesley Rudd
	Towers Perrin
	Sue Slipman
	RSM Robson Rhodes
	ESRI UK Ltd.
	Semio
	Logica CMG
	FiL & Emp For (P/ship)
	L S Consulting
	Marilyn Howard
	Orgin Inc. Jeff Jablow
	Strudel
	Wilson Sherriff
	Dr. Alan Waring
	SchlumbergerSema
	IDU
	NOP World
	Mike Smith
	Rosemary Nichols Consulting
	TMP/Hudson (Kudos)
	Brian Wilson & Assoc.
	Policy Studies Institute
	Socia
	Legal Recoveries & Collections
	Renaissance Ltd.
	Realchoices
	Forum Theatre
	CMG
	InSearch
	Executive Development International
	A T Colligan
	Smythe, Dorward, Lambert
	Mr. R. Hull
	STRAD Consulting
	Xansa
	David Mason Consultancy
	Interface Advantage Ltd.
	Taylor Clarke Partnership
	Furner Communications
	Hazel Genn
	IFF Research
	McKenzie Associates
	Inbucon Consulting
	Atlan
	TALL
	Achilles Information Ltd.
	BT Consulting
	Bigmouthmedia
	Rolelay UK Ltd.
	LS Consulting
	Red Island
	Procurement Inline Ltd.
	Benartzi & DiCenzo

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Margaret Hodge: DWP recognises the need for effective commissioning on external consultancy. All requests for external consults for DWP and its businesses are acquired competitively through existing OGC and our own specialised frameworks to secure optimum value for money.
	I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey) on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W.
	DWP has no responsibility regarding the voluntary sector and does not fund any voluntary bodies to commission external resources.

Coventry Area Pathfinders (IT Problems)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the IT problems in the Coventry area Pathfinders have been resolved.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 14 July 2005
	Local authorities procure their IT systems through a tendering process and enter into a contract with their chosen IT supplier. Local authorities are then responsible for managing the contract including the quality of the product procured and the service provided. Therefore, this is a matter for the chief executive of Coventry city council.

Departmental Advertising

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the (a) Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible has spent on advertising in the last three years, broken down by media type.

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department has spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The Department's media spend is available for the last three financial years and is set out in the following tables. Spend before this period, and the requested information on advertising spend of the Department's non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		2004–05 -- £
		
			 Campaign/subject TV Radio Press(44) Other(45) 
		
		
			 State pension deferral — — 115,440 — 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 1,016,540 885,000 90,000 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,481,000 1,140,000 4,460,000 2,778,000 
			 Direct payment 2,668,000 930,000 475,000 735,000 
			 Council tax benefit — 12,810 660,970 — 
			 Pension credit 1,687,580 46,840 2,633,520 20,500 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 514,910 — 
			 IB reforms pilots — 35,290 70,630 — 
			 Lone parent leaflet promotion marketing — — 215,740 — 
			 National vacancy campaign — — 323,500 66,000 
			 Total 5,880,300 3,191,800 10,606,580 7,128,300 
		
	
	
		2003–04 -- £
		
			 Campaign TV Radio Press(44) Other(45) 
		
		
			 Age positive — — 70,400 — 
			 Second state pension — — 209,180 — 
			 Pension service awareness — — 906.100 — 
			 New deal 3,526,190 818,030 1,043,320 — 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 40,290 — — 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,835,000 1,145,000 1,423,000 3,980,000 
			 Direct payment 3,594,000 1,872,000 5,389,000 240,000 
			 Council tax benefit — — 556,230 — 
			 Pension credit 3,570,860 30,990 6,305,170 — 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 625,000 — 
			 Jobseekers direct 1,565,730 — 66,420 — 
			 IB reforms pilot — 45,090 67,510 — 
			 Jobcentre plus customer marketing — — 11,860 1,389,000 
			 National employer campaign — — 1,158,020 — 
			 Total 14,091,780 3,951 ,400 17,831,210 5,609,000 
		
	
	
		2002–03 -- £
		
			 Campaign TV Radio Press(44) Other(45) 
		
		
			 Age positive — — 644,490 61,850 
			 Future pensioners/informed choice 1,576,510 — 1,301,440 — 
			 Second state pension — — 488,700 — 
			 New deal for musicians — — 32,900 — 
			 Disability Discrimination Act — 50,060 — — 
			 Targeting benefit fraud — 35,000 — — 
			 Direct payment — 383,000 475,000 — 
			 Winter fuel payments — — 627,450 — 
			 Inherited serps — — 645,730 — 
			 Total 1,576,510 468,060 4,215710 61,850 
		
	
	(44) Press includes national press, regional press, specialist press, advertorials and featurelink.
	(45) Other includes outdoor, online and ambient media.
	Notes:
	1. These tables do not include the following as the information is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost:
	spend by non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible;
	details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses;
	recruitment or procurement advertising. This also applies to figures for Jobcentre Plus publicity in 2002 to 2003 as at that time allocations sat with various policy teams and within regional budgets for ad hoc allocations.
	2. The figures in these tables refer to media spend only, excluding production and other costs.
	3. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	4. All figures are quoted net of VAT.

Departmental IT Projects

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of his Department's IT projects are categorised as red light; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions has a strong record in adopting the Office of Government Commerce's (OGC) policy and best practice initiatives. All the Department's Mission Critical/High and Medium Risk Projects are subject to OGC Gateway Reviews. Disclosure of details relating to the traffic light status awarded by OGC Gateway Reviews would be likely to prejudice both the ability of OGC to examine the effectiveness, efficiency and economy with which Government Departments exercise their functions and also the formulation and development of Government policy.

Departmental Staff

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much staff time, and at what grade, has been spent at relevant assessment panels and moderating meetings in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 in relation to his Department's Performance and Development System; how much money has been claimed in travel and subsistence by (i) panel members, (ii) chairs and (iii) human resources staff in each of those years; and what the cost has been of (A) hiring venues and (B) providing refreshments at the meetings in each of those years.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not available.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: Table C of Civil Service Statistics shows the numbers of staff by department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis.
	Civil Service Statistics 2004 is available in the Library.

Departmental Union Representation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many trade union learning representatives there are in his Department.

Anne McGuire: There are at present 337 accredited trade union learning representatives in the Department for Work and Pensions.

Departmental Website

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the time periods after which publications are removed from his Department's website.

James Plaskitt: DWP publications are kept live" on the website for the current and the previous calendar years.
	Older publications are available from DWP's Library Archive, and can be requested via e-mail or post. Information on how to do this is displayed prominently on the relevant pages of the website.

Disability Allowance

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people have been registered for disability allowance in the Mid-Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the disability and carers service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Mrs. Nadine Dorries, dated 20 July 2005
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people have been registered for disability living allowance in the Mid-Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency in each year since 1997. The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The requested information available is in the attached table.
	I hope this is helpful.
	
		DLA recipients under the age of 16 in Mid-Bedfordshire constituency as at February each year since 1997 -- Thousand
		
			  DLA liveload(46) 
		
		
			 1997 0.1 
			 1998 0.2 
			 1999 0.2 
			 2000 0.2 
			 2001 0.2 
			 2002 0.2 
			 2003 0.3 
			 2004 0.4 
			 2005 0.4 
		
	
	(46) Figures are less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	Notes:
	1. Based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to sampling variation.
	2. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	4. Parliamentary constituencies are allocated using the relevant ONS post code directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. data.

Disability Benefits

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance there were in Wrexham in each year since 1997, broken down by ward.

Anne McGuire: Ward level data is not available prior to 1998. The available information is in the tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Wrexham: 1998 ward boundaries
		
			  As at August 
			 Ward name 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Acton 195 180 190 
			 Borras Park 115 120 125 
			 Caia Park 485 490 470 
			 Garden Village 95 95 85 
			 Gresford East and West 110 100 100 
			 Grosvenor 170 170 165 
			 Gwersyllt East and South 205 215 205 
			 Gwersyllt North 160 155 160 
			 Gwersyllt West 175 175 180 
			 Holt 115 105 110 
			 Little Acton 95 95 75 
			 Llay 230 235 235 
			 Maesydre 145 135 135 
			 Marford and Hoseley 45 45 45 
			 Offa East 370 370 345 
			 Offa West 225 220 220 
			 Queensway 465 440 445 
			 Rhosnesni 115 115 100 
			 Rossett 75 85 85 
			 Stansty 125 130 125 
			 Whitegate 150 150 170 
		
	
	
		2003 ward boundaries
		
			  As at August 
			 Ward name 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Acton 185 195 195 180 
			 Borras Park 130 120 115 120 
			 Brynyffynnon 185 185 175 180 
			 Cartrefle 190 180 175 190 
			 Erddig 70 75 75 75 
			 Garden Village 80 75 75 70 
			 Gresford East and West 100 110 100 95 
			 Grosvenor 140 140 145 130 
			 Gwersyllt East and South 190 200 195 200 
			 Gwersyllt North 170 190 175 165 
			 Gwersyllt West 190 185 185 190 
			 Hermitage 220 225 230 225 
			 Holt 115 115 110 105 
			 Little Acton 80 80 90 75 
			 Llay 250 250 255 245 
			 Maesydre 120 120 110 110 
			 Marford and Hoseley 45 45 40 50 
			 Offa 120 110 100 100 
			 Queensway 260 280 265 240 
			 Rhosnesni 110 110 100 105 
			 Rossett 90 85 70 70 
			 Smithfield 210 210 205 180 
			 Stansty 120 115 110 115 
			 Whitegate 215 215 215 190 
			 Wynnstay 255 250 255 240 
		
	
	
		Severe disability allowance claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Wrexham: 1998 ward boundaries
		
			  As at August 
			 Ward name 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Acton 25 30 25 
			 Borras Park 10 10 15 
			 Caia Park 85 85 85 
			 Garden Village 5 5 5 
			 Gresford East and West 10 10 15 
			 Grosvenor 25 30 30 
			 Gwersyllt East and South 25 25 20 
			 Gwersyllt North 20 20 25 
			 Gwersyllt West 25 30 35 
			 Holt 20 15 15 
			 Little Acton 15 15 15 
			 Llay 30 30 30 
			 Maesydre 35 35 35 
			 Marford and Hoseley 5 0 0 
			 Offa East 75 90 85 
			 Offa West 45 50 35 
			 Queensway 50 55 45 
			 Rhosnesni 15 15 20 
			 Rossett 20 25 20 
			 Stansty 25 20 25 
			 Whitegate 20 20 25 
		
	
	
		2003 ward boundaries
		
			 Ward name 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Acton 25 20 15 20 
			 Borras Park 10 10 10 10 
			 Brynyffynnon 25 20 25 20 
			 Cartrefle 30 25 30 25 
			 Erddig 30 20 15 15 
			 Garden Village 10 10 10 10 
			 Gresford East and West 10 10 10 10 
			 Grosvenor 30 30 35 30 
			 Gwersyllt East and South 25 25 20 25 
			 Gwersyllt North 20 15 15 15 
			 Gwersyllt West 30 40 35 35 
			 Hermitage 40 35 35 30 
			 Holt 15 15 15 15 
			 Little Acton 20 15 15 10 
			 Llay 30 30 30 30 
			 Maesydre 25 30 20 25 
			 Marford and Hoseley 5 0 0 5 
			 Offa 30 20 25 30 
			 Queensway 20 20 15 20 
			 Rhosnesni 20 15 15 15 
			 Rossett 20 15 15 10 
			 Smithfield 30 20 20 15 
			 Stansty 20 20 20 20 
			 Whitegate 30 25 25 25 
			 Wynnstay 45 35 35 30 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Incapacity benefit figures include credits-only cases.
	2. 1998 to 2000 figures are based on April 1998 ward boundaries.
	3. 2001 to 2004 figures are based on April 2003 ward boundaries.
	4. All benefit counts at ward level are rounded to a multiple of 5 to protect the confidentiality of individual claimants.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what measures are in place to ensure that those on housing benefit are not discouraged from returning to work;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of local housing allowances on disincentives to work.

James Plaskitt: We are committed to making work pay for all those who are able to work, and to supporting households in sustaining employment.
	We have made significant progress in taking forward our Housing Benefit Reform Programme which was launched in October 2002. As part of this reform, we implemented the local housing allowance in nine pathfinder authorities for tenants in the deregulated private sector. Nine more local authorities will implement the local housing allowance between April and July 2005. Early results from the Pathfinders are contained in the evaluation report Delivering the Local Housing Allowance: A summary of the early experiences of implementing the Local Housing Allowance in the nine Pathfinder areas", published in April, which is available in the Library.
	In April 2004, we introduced a number of measures to improve work incentives for housing benefit recipients. These included removing the need for people to reclaim housing benefit when they start a job. In most cases this ensures that benefit claims remain live" while local authorities determine whether someone is entitled to continue claiming housing benefit. We also applied the additional earnings disregard in housing benefit and council tax benefit to those customers who are working for 16 or more hours a week and who have children or are disabled, and to some people of 50 or over who have recently returned to work. In addition, we extended housing benefit run-on to people receiving incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance.
	As part of our reform programme, we are also reducing administrative complexity and providing housing benefit recipients with a clearer understanding of their benefit entitlement on return to work.
	We have also introduced a range of other measures which act as real incentives for people to move off benefit and into work. The National Minimum Wage was introduced in April 1999. It established minimum standards of pay in the labour market. In October 2004 the minimum wage was increased from £4.50 per hour to £4.85 for workers aged 22 and over and from £3.80 per hour to £4.10 per hour for people aged 18–21.
	Building on the success of working families' tax credit (WFTC), disabled person's tax credit and the children's tax credit, from April 2003 we introduced two new tax credits: the child tax credit (CTC) and the working tax credit (WTC) both of which are designed to make work pay.
	The Adviser Discretion Fund was introduced in July 2001, giving Jobcentre Plus Advisers direct access to funds to remove immediate barriers to employment and help people move quickly into work. In October 2004 we introduced Job Grant to help people manage until they receive their first wages. Additionally, housing benefit and council tax benefit extended payments allow maximum housing benefit and council tax benefit to continue for the first four weeks after starting work.
	The effectiveness of work incentives will be monitored as part of the comprehensive Pathfinder evaluation.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether IT systems used to administer housing benefit by local authority departments, local Jobcentre Plus offices and his Department are able to communicate with each other directly; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Currently there are no facilities for direct communication between the Department for Work and Pension Information Technology (IT) Systems and Local Authority Housing Benefit IT systems. The Department does, however, supply local authorities with Remote Access Terminals that allow authorised users to view details of income support, pension credit and jobseekers allowance customers that are relevant to housing benefit and council tax benefit entitlement.
	DWP also provides electronic transfers of data to relevant local authorities on awards, changes and terminations of income support, job seekers allowance and pension credit for customers known to be in receipt of housing benefit or council tax benefit. This allows any changes reported to DWP to be reflected in local authority systems.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on costs of the introduction of the local housing allowance across England; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the estimated cost of extending the local housing allowance scheme across England is, broken down by (a) benefit payments and (b) IT expenditure.

James Plaskitt: We have put in place an independent, comprehensive evaluation of the nine pathfinders which will not conclude until spring 2006. This will inform the design of the scheme and the associated costs.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit recipients were subject to the single room rent restriction on 1 April.

James Plaskitt: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Quarterly Summary Statistics for February 2005 (the latest available published data) show that there were 11,200 housing benefit recipients assessed under the single room rent.

Housing Benefit

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether housing benefit paid to council tenants is funded from (a) social security funds, (b) local authority funds and (c) central Government funds.

James Plaskitt: Central Government funds housing benefit via interim payments of subsidy made to local authorities during the year. Authorities are then required to submit claims for subsidy, after the end of the financial year. These are compared to the interim amounts and further payments to, or recoveries from, authorities may be made.
	Subject to certain restrictions housing benefit to which there is an entitlement is subsidised in full. Any shortfall in Government funding is met from local authority funds.

Incapacity Benefit

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will list the countries to which incapacity benefit claimants may move and continue to receive their benefit; and in which countries the benefit continues to be index-linked;
	(2)  how many incapacity benefit recipients live outside the UK in a country where they can receive (a) index-linked benefit entitlement and (b) non index-linked benefit entitlement.

Anne McGuire: As at February 2005 there were 9,800 recipients of incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) living outside the UK. Information on their countries of residence is not available.
	IB is uprated in all countries where it can be paid. It is payable to recipients living in European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland under the European Community's social security regulations. It is also payable under bilateral social security agreements to recipients who live in the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands or in one of the countries in the following list:
	Non-EU/EEA countries where incapacity benefit is payable under bi-lateral agreements
	Bosnia-Herzegovina
	Barbados
	Croatia
	Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
	Israel
	Jamaica
	State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
	Turkey
	USA

Medical Examination Centres

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to close medical examination centres; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Following the award of a new medical services contract, the Department and Atos Origin are currently discussing a range of proposals, including an estates strategy that will both improve service standards and secure investment in other areas. Further information will be made available once these discussions have been concluded.

Medical Examination Centres

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list medical examination centres in the UK.

Anne McGuire: A list of all the existing medical examination centres in the UK has been placed in the Library.

Medical Examination Centres

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria have been used in deciding the programme of closures of medical examination centres.

Anne McGuire: Following the award of a new medical services contract, the Department and Atos Origin are currently discussing a range of proposals, including an estates strategy that will both improve service standards and secure investment in other areas. Further information will be made available once these discussions have been concluded.

Medical Examination Centres

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of closure of the medical examination centre in Bolton on the residents of Bolton South East constituency;
	(2)  what saving will be obtained by closure of the Bolton Medical Examination Centre;
	(3)  how many redundancies will arise from the closure of the Bolton Medical Examination Centre;
	(4)  where those living in the Bolton South East constituency will be sent by his Department for medical examinations following the closure of the Bolton Medical Examination Centre;
	(5)  when the decision was made to close the Medical Examination Centre in Bolton;
	(6)  which (a) organisations and (b) individuals were consulted about the decision to close the Medical Examination Centre in Bolton;
	(7)  how many people from the Bolton South East parliamentary constituency have been examined at the Bolton Medical Examination Centre in each year since 1997; and how many were examined elsewhere in each year.

Anne McGuire: Following the award of a new medical services contract, the Department and Atos Origin are currently discussing a range of proposals, including an estates strategy that will both improve service standards and secure investment in other areas. Further information will be made available once these discussions have been concluded.
	Available information on the number of incapacity benefit customers from the Bolton South East constituency attending Bolton Medical Examination Centre and other Medical Examination Centres in each year from 1997 to 2005 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Bolton Others 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 
			 1998 189 29 
			 1999 578 77 
			 2000 1089 74 
			 2001 1341 73 
			 2002 1682 84 
			 2003 1630 56 
			 2004 1462 27 
			 2005 686 10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Atos Origin have only been able to provide information since 1 September 1998 when they were awarded the Contract.
	2. The Others column relates to people who live in the BL1 and BL4 (Bolton South East constituency postcodes) who attended a different medical examination centre as it was more convenient for them to do so.

National Insurance

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the merits of reducing the lower earnings limit to bring more low-paid workers into the National Insurance system.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Currently the lower earning limit is £82 per week. There are around 1.7 million people with earnings below this level in the UK. Many of these people, particularly women, will benefit from credits or Home Responsibilities Protection that bring them into the National Insurance system.
	At the Labour Party National Policy Forum held in July 2004, it was agreed with the trade unions that the Government would carry out a review of the lower earnings limit in determining access to benefits for low-paid workers.
	This review is underway and will help inform the national pensions debate. Producing fairer outcomes for women and carers is one of the principles driving reform.

Newtown Office

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will reverse the decision to close his Department's office in Newtown, Powys; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely economic effect on Newtown, Powys, of the closure of his Department's facility in the town; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, who will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Leslie Strathie to Mr. Lembit pik, dated 20 July 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the closure of the Jobcentre Plus office in Newtown and the economic effect on the town. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Firstly, I must make it clear that there are no plans to close the Jobcentre Plus Office in Newtown. As David Anderson, the former Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus outlined in his letter to you of 31 March, it is the behind the scenes Benefit Processing work that will eventually transfer to our Processing Centre in Wrexham.
	The centralisation of Benefit Processing, at a smaller number of larger sites, will play a crucial role in helping Jobcentre Plus to meet the Government's efficiency challenge and I know that Charles Morse, the District Manager for North West Wales and Powys wrote to you on 27 May detailing the timescales for the transfer of this work.
	It is not envisaged that the transfer of Benefit Processing to Wrexham will have an adverse impact upon the wider local economy. Customers will continue to have access to the fully integrated Jobcentre Plus service at Afon House and, through our enhanced Personal Adviser service for customers on inactive benefits, we will continue to target our help at some of our most disadvantaged customers.
	Nevertheless, I recognise that the decision to centralise Benefit Processing has led to surplus staff. Unfortunately, it has not proved possible to identify suitable redeployment opportunities for all those staff involved. Consequently, it has been necessary to run a Voluntary Early Release Scheme and in the coming months, as we complete the transfer of work to Wrexham, a number of staff will be leaving Jobcentre Plus under the terms of our scheme.
	While the loss of experienced staff is always regrettable, the challenges that Jobcentre Plus has taken up are about providing a better and more efficient service to our customers, and there is no doubt in my mind that the decision to centralise Benefit Processing is the correct one. Charles Morse will continue to keep you fully informed as our plans take shape.
	I hope this is helpful.

Pension Credit

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were entitled to pension credit in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; how many are currently entitled; and what estimate he has made of entitlement in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

James Plaskitt: National Statistics covering estimates of entitlement and take-up of pension credit in 200304 are planned for release in December 2005.
	The current indicative projections of entitlement from 200405 onwards are shown in the table.
	
		Projections of entitlement to pension credit --  million
		
			  Entitled households Entitled individuals 
		
		
			 200405 3.80 4.90 
			 200506 3.85 5.00 
			 200607 3.95 5.15 
			 200708 4.10 5.35 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are for Great Britain. They are in millions and rounded to the nearest 50,000.
	2. Entitlement levels for pension credit are estimated using the 2002/03 Family Resources Survey modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model.
	3. Results are subject to sampling and reporting errors and estimation assumptions, and are therefore indicative only.
	4. Analysis suggests that due to uncertainties, a margin of error of 250,000 should be placed around the central projections. So the projection for 200405 could lie in the range 3.55 million to 4.05 million households.
	5. The projections of individuals include some people aged under 60 who are partners of claimants aged 60 or over.
	Source:
	Policy Simulation Model based on the 2002/03 Family Resources Survey.

Pensions

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many occupational pension schemes have started winding up in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Such information as is available from the register of pension schemes that is maintained by The Pensions Regulator indicates that around 170 private sector defined benefit schemes started to wind up in 2000, around 170 in 2001, around 180 in 2002, and around 130 in 2003. In total around 720 private sector defined benefit schemes were recorded as having started to wind up sometime between 2000 and October 2004. These figures do not include schemes which completed wind up during that period. Figures on schemes starting to wind up between 1997 and 2000 are not available as the register does not contain information on whether the schemes that started to wind up before 2000 started before or after 1997.

Pensions

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many stakeholder pension schemes have been opened in each year since 2002.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			 Calendar year Number of stakeholder pensions opened 
		
		
			 2002 638,000 
			 2003 560,000 
			 2004 524,000 
			 Total 1,722,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
	2. Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the expenditure on national insurance rebates for those contracted out of the (a) State Earnings Related Pension Scheme and (b) State Second Pension in each year from 199798 to 200910.

James Plaskitt: The figures requested are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Rebate in cash terms to 200405, constant 200506 prices thereafter ( billion) 
		
		
			 199697 6.9 
			 199798 7.4 
			 199899 7.8 
			 19992000 8.2 
			 200001 8.7 
			 200102 9.0 
			 200203 10.4 
			 200304 10.1 
			 200405 10.3 
			 200506 10.7 
			 200607 10.9 
			 200708 10.4 
			 200809 10.5 
			 200910 10.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are for Great Britain only and are consistent with Budget 2005 estimates.
	Source:
	The Government Actuary's Department.

Pensions

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will estimate the cost of state second pension payments in 2026 if no new rights are accrued from 2006 onwards;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of payments on the state second pension in 2026.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
	The long term projection for state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) payments and state second pension payments in 2026 is 21.1 billion. If no new rights were accrued for the state second pension from 2006 onwards, the estimated cost of SERPS and state second pension payments in 2026 would be 16.1 billion.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for Great Britain in 200506 price terms, in billions rounded to the nearest 100 million.
	2. The former costs are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2004.
	For the latter figure:
	3. The cost of future state earnings-related pension scheme payments and state second pension payments are calculated by using the December 2004 Update of the Government Actuary's Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund, and use 2003 based population projections.
	4. The cost is the net cost payable after accrued contracting out deductions have been made.
	5. Contracting-out is also assumed to cease in 2006.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of retirement pension awards made in each of the last five years that were subsequently found to be incorrect and rectified.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the form requested. Available information on state pension accuracy rates is set out in the following table:
	
		State pension awards 200001 to 200304:estimated accuracy rates
		
			  Accuracy rate 
		
		
			 200001 97.8 
			 200102 97.8 
			 200203 97.0 
			 200304 98.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The estimates are subject to sampling error.
	2. The percentages quoted relate to the estimated proportion of cases where the payment is free of official error of 50p a week or more.
	Source:
	Pension Service Internal Assurance Services/Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions

Pensions

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of active stakeholder pension schemes in existence.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available in the format requested. Stakeholder pensions are designed to be flexible, with holders being permitted to take breaks in contributions without incurring penalty charges.
	In the tax year 200203, 1,060,000 stakeholder pension policies received a contribution.
	Note:
	1. It is not an indication that stakeholder pensions sold since launch in 2001 but not receiving a contribution in 200203, will receive no further contributions.
	2. This information is derived from a sample of annual returns of information submitted to the Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs) by stakeholder pension providers.
	3. The figure is rounded to the nearest 10,000.

Press Officers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers the Department and its predecessors employed in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information prior to 2001 is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Number of Press Officers employed
		
			  National Press Officers(47) Regional Press Officers(47) 
		
		
			 200102 21 0 
			 200203 16 13 
			 200304 20 20 
			 200405 19 23 
		
	
	(47)The number of staff is the number in post at 31 March each year.
	
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 200102 816,725 
			 200203 1,739,935 
			 200304 1,146,255 
			 200405 1,533,703 
		
	
	Note:
	The costs are based on average salaries for the year and take into account the actual number of Press Officers and changes in post each month.

Social Fund

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform the Social Fund.

James Plaskitt: The social fund plays an important role in the Government's agenda for tackling poverty and social exclusion. It provides valuable support to millions of people on low incomes, including some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We have recently announced a number of planned improvements to the social fund.
	The Child Poverty Review, published on 12 July 2004, announced the Government's intention to abolish the Budgeting Loan double debt rule and to reduce the current standard repayment rate of 15 per cent. of a customers benefit to 12 per cent. These changes will come into effect on 3 April 2006 and will make budgeting loans more consistent and easier to understand and the social fund more effective in assisting those families most likely to experience debt problems.
	These changes, which will make it easier for applicants to access loans, will be supported by a net increase in loans funding of 210 million over the three years from 200607. In the short-term these changes will strengthen the social fund's contribution to increasing access to affordable credit for those on the lowest incomes. In the longer term we intend to consider more widely the role the social fund might play in the wider financial inclusion agenda.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available.

Vaccine Reactions

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many payments have been made for adverse reactions to vaccines for (a) hepatitis B, (b) polio, (c) MMR, (d) tetanus and (e) influenza in each of the last 10 years.

Anne McGuire: The Vaccine Damage Payment scheme provides for a tax-free lump sum payment to those who are severely disabled as a result of vaccinations against certain diseases specified in the Vaccine Damage Payment Act. Influenza and Hepatitis B are not included in the Act.
	The Department does not hold information about the specific vaccines linked to a successful Vaccine Damage Payment claim.
	Claimants are asked to specify on the claim form all the vaccinations that the disabled person received. Many vaccinations can be given in close proximity to each other and it is not always possible to determine exactly which vaccination is linked to the adverse reaction. Decisions are therefore not based on one particular vaccine. All the vaccinations given to the disabled person and their full medical history are considered. It is therefore not possible to attribute payments to a specific vaccination.

Vibration White Finger

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will issue guidance to staff handling claims for reduced earnings allowance in respect of PD A11 (vibration white finger) to take account of changes in rules consequent on the report from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

Margaret Hodge: As with ail changes to the list of prescribed diseases under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme, guidance will be issued to alert staff to the changes to Prescribed Disease A11 (PD A11) and the effects of those changes on benefit entitlement.

Winter Fuel Payment

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households there were in North East Milton Keynes with at least one person aged 75 years or over receiving the winter fuel payment in 200405.

James Plaskitt: For winter 200405 there were 3,920 households in North East Milton Keynes with at least one person aged 75 or over that received the winter fuel payment. Information on winter fuel payments is available in the Library.
	Notes
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Local authorities and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	3. Any residence found to have four or more occupants is not included in these figures as it is assumed to be a Residential Care or Nursing Home.
	4. Please note that the figures for 200405 refer only to the main payment run so they do not include the late payment run figures. We estimate that there are approximately 100,000 people in Great Britain paid in late payment runs (0.8 per cent. of all payments). Since most of the payments made in late payment runs are to people who are not receiving another benefit from DWP and whose claims had not been received by the qualifying week, most are men aged 60.
	Source
	Information Directorate, 100 per cent. sample.

Work Disincentives

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the disincentives to work that existed within the benefit system in 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1997 the Government's priority has been to tackle the scourge of unemployment, inactivity and poverty through investment in, and reform of, the welfare state. The UK now has one of the strongest labour markets in the world, with the best combination of employment and unemployment of the major world economies. More people are moving from welfare back into work with employment up almost 200,000 in the last year and by over 2 million since 1997. With more people in jobs than ever before, we now spend 5 billion less on unemployment benefits than we did in 1997.
	A central part of our strategy is to ensure that work pays, establishing a real incentive for people to move off benefit and into work.
	The National Minimum Wage was introduced in April 1999 as part of our overall strategy, establishing minimum standards of pay in the labour market. In October 2004 the minimum wage was increased from 4.50 per hour to 4.85 for workers aged 22 and over and from 3.80 per hour to 4.10 per hour for people aged 1821 inclusive.
	Building on the success of working families' tax credit (WFTC), disabled person's tax credit and the children's tax credit, from April 2003 the Government introduced two new tax credits, the child tax credit (CTC) and the working tax credit (WTC). Entitlement to the tax credits is based on the particular circumstances of an
	individual or family.
	The Adviser Discretion Fund was introduced in July 2001, giving Jobcentre Plus Advisers direct access to funds to remove immediate barriers to employment and thus help people move quickly into work. In addition, from October 2003, access to the Fund was further extended to all incapacity benefit customers in Pathways to Work pilot areas from the first day of their claim.
	Job Grant was also introduced in October 2004 to help people manage until they receive their first wages. It replaced both the Lone Parents Run-On and the original Job Grant schemes.
	Additionally the housing benefit and council tax benefit extended payments allow maximum housing benefit and council tax benefit to continue for the first four weeks after starting work. Help with mortgage interest in the first four weeks of employment may also be available through Mortgage Interest Run-On in the income-related benefits.
	Today, Britain is working again. We are transforming the welfare state from a passive one-size-fits-all model to an active system that delivers both rights and responsibilities, tailoring help to the individual and providing the support and incentives people need to move from welfare and into work.

TREASURY

Boundary Reviews

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population aged 18 years and over was at the last Census in each constituency agreed by the Boundary Commission as part of the current round of boundary reviews.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Clive Betts, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the population aged 18 years and over was at the last Census in each constituency agreed by the Boundary Commission as part of the current round of boundary reviews. (13518)
	I refer you to the answer given in the Official Report volume 436 number 34 column 1166.

Child Trust Fund

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many applications there have been for the new child trust fund nationally since its introduction; and how many children are eligible to receive it;
	(2)  how many applications there have been for the new child trust fund (a) nationally and (b) in Houghton and Washington East constituency since its introduction; and how many children (i) in the UK and (ii) in that constituency are eligible to receive it.

Ivan Lewis: Children are eligible for the child trust fund if they were born on or after 1 September 2002, a child benefit award has been made for them and they live in the UK and are not subject to immigration restrictions.
	A CTF voucher is needed to open a child trust fund account and all eligible children receive one automatically once a child benefit award is made. No separate application is needed. So far around 1.7 million vouchers have been issued and I am encouraged by the fact that around one third of these vouchers have already been used and that awareness of the fund is virtually universal and many parents now see the child trust fund as the primary savings vehicle for their child. This positive action will help us to achieve our goal that every childregardless of their backgroundgets the best start in life.
	Information on the number of CTF vouchers issued by parliamentary constituency is only available at disproportionate cost. However for information on the number of children born to mother resident in each UK constituency since 1 September 2002 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Battersea (Martin Linton) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, columns 8788W.

EU Directive 2001/17/EC

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on EU Directive 2001/17/EC.

Anthony Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to implement EU Directive 2001/17/EC; and by what method he proposes to implement it.

Ivan Lewis: Directive 2001/17/EC was implemented in the UK by the Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding-Up) Regulations 2004 for all insurance undertakings, apart from Lloyd's. Lloyd's unique structure did not prove readily compatible with the provisions of these regulations without further complex adaptation and refinement. Following consultation on draft regulations earlier this year, we intend to make the Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding-Up) (Lloyd's) Regulations 2005 using powers under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act.

GDP (North-East)

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the GDP per head is in (a) England, (b) the North East region, (c) the Tees Valley sub region and (d) Hartlepool.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Iain Wright, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about GDP per head for England, the North East region, the Tees Valley sub region and Hartlepool. (13435)
	The latest published information for GVA per head for England and the North East is for 2003. The Tees Valley is in the NUTS2 area of Tees Valley and Durham. Hartlepool is in the NUTS3 area of Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees, which is currently the lowest geographic level at which GVA per head is published. The latest published information for these two areas is for 2002.
	The estimates in the table are based on the regional Gross Value Added 1 (GVA) estimates published in December 2004. These are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=7359 
	
		Gross Value Added (GVA)(48)  per head at current basic prices
		
			  2002 (49)2003 
		
		
			 England 15,633 16,339 
			 North East 12,078 12,736 
			 Tees Valley and Durham 11,184  
			 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees 12,019  
		
	
	(48) Information presented here is Gross Value Added (GVA) which is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.
	(49) Provisional

Income Tax

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average wage is in Beverley and Holderness.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Graham Stuart, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question what was the average wage in Beverley and Holderness is. (13292)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach a table showing the average gross weekly earnings for full time employees in Beverley and Holderness in 2004. The data is also available on the National Statistics website on table 9:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=l 3101
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent sample of all employees.
	
		Means and Medians for full-time employees in Beverley and Holderness in 2004
		
			  Beverley and Holderness 
		
		
			 Median 387.7 
			 CV percentage* (50)9.7 
			   
			 Mean 440.1 
			 CV percentage* (50)5.0 
		
	
	(50) Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) is given to indicate the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.
	The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent., we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.
	Notes:
	1. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, (ASHE), carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees.
	2. The ASHE replaces the New Earnings Survey (NES) from October 2004. The main difference between the ASHE and NES being that estimates are weighted to population totals from the Labour Force Survey.
	3. Average gross weekly earnings for Adult Full-Time Employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS

IT Projects

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of his Department's IT projects are categorised as red light; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Treasury has a strong record in adopting OGC policy and best practice initiatives and all the Department's Mission Critical, High and Medium Risk Projects are subject to OGC Gateway Reviews.
	The purpose of the 'traffic light' system is to bring to the attention of the Senior Responsible Owner significant or urgent issues that need to be addressed, and any designation of 'red', 'amber' or 'green light' conveys no suggestion as to whether a project should be continued. Information on our projects will continue to be published.

National Statistics

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of theExchequer what the total population was of each of the counties surrounding London in each year since 1975.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Geoffrey Robinson, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the total population of all the counties surrounding London in each year since 1975. (13761)
	The attached table provides population estimates for mid-1975 to mid-2003 for the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Essex and Kent and the former county of Berkshire.
	The Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) between 1995 and 1998 resulted in major changes to some county boundaries. Therefore data has been provided on both former and current county boundaries for later years to enable comparison over time.
	The most recent population estimates published are for mid-2003. (Estimates for mid-2004 will be published on 25 August 2005.)
	
		Mid-year population estimates: 1975 to 2003(51)(5508070052)
		
			 Thousand 
			  Buckinghamshire(53)(5508070054) Hertfordshire(53)(5508070054) 
			 Year(52) Former county Milton Keynes UA Current county Former/Current county 
		
		
			 1975 509.9   940.8 
			 1976 519.5   942.4 
			 1977 528.5   945.6 
			 1978 539.7   950.7 
			 1979 552.5   956.7 
			 1980 562.1   962.1 
			 1981 568.9   969.2 
			 1982 577.1   970.8 
			 1983 575.5   977.4 
			 1984 589.3   981.4 
			 1985 595.5   985.7 
			 1986 606.0   984.1 
			 1987 613.4   983.2 
			 1988 618.6   980.8 
			 1989 624.8   980.1 
			 1990 631.0   979.9 
			 1991 634.0   984.3 
			 1992 640.4   988.9 
			 1993 645.8   991.1 
			 1994 652.0   995.4 
			 1995 660.3   999.8 
			 1996 665.4   1,002.7 
			 1997 670.8 199.7 471.1 1,009.7 
			 1998 674.9 202.9 472.1 1,016.4 
			 1999 682.5 206.7 475.9 1,024.0 
			 2000 687.0 209.8 477.2 1,029.8 
			 2001 691.8 212.7 479.1 1,035.5 
			 2002 692.1 214.1 477.9 1,037.2 
			 2003(51) 693.7 215.7 478.0 1,040.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Surrey(53)(5508070054) Essex(53)(5508070054) 
			 Year(52) Former/Current county Former county Southend UA Thurrock UA Current county 
		
		
			 1975 1,005.2 1,416.1
			 1976 1,007.7 1,428.6
			 1977 1,008.8 1,438.2
			 1978 1,010.8 1,449.1
			 1979 1,013.7 1,461.5
			 1980 1,017.3 1,474.5
			 1981 1,010.8 1,481.9
			 1982 1,009.7 1,482.8
			 1983 1,010.1 1,491.1
			 1984 1,015.1 1,496.5
			 1985 1,016.2 1,505.0
			 1986 1,016.6 1,512.9
			 1987 1,006.9 1,522.2
			 1988 1,008.4 1,530.4
			 1989 1,010.6 1,533.4
			 1990 1,015.7 1,535.6
			 1991 1,023.3 1,539.0
			 1992 1,024.3 1,546.9
			 1993 1,025.6 1,550.6
			 1994 1,027.4 1,558.5
			 1995 1,030.2 1,564.9
			 1996 1,030.9 1,571.3
			 1997 1,038.8 1,578.7
			 1998 1,040.2 1,586.7 163.8 138.7 1,284.2 
			 1999 1,055.7 1,597.4 162.9 139.5 1,295.0 
			 2000 1,057.0 1,607.5 161.6 141.5 1,304.4 
			 2001 1,060.2 1,616.3 160.4 143.3 1,312.6 
			 2002 1,061.3 1,623.0 160.4 144.5 1,318.1 
			 2003(51) 1,064.6 1,629.6 160.3 145.3 1,324.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Kent(53)(5508070054) 
			 Year(52) Former county Medway UA Current county 
		
		
			 1975 1,445.4   
			 1976 1,452.6   
			 1977 1,456.3   
			 1978 1,461.6   
			 1979 1,468.1   
			 1980 1,478.2   
			 1981 1,484.8   
			 1982 1,486.6   
			 1983 1,486.2   
			 1984 1,491.2   
			 1985 1,495.1   
			 1986 1,500.6   
			 1987 1,509.2   
			 1988 1,519.0   
			 1989 1,522.2   
			 1990 1,524.4   
			 1991 1,528.3   
			 1992 1,528.9   
			 1993 1,528.4   
			 1994 1,532.7   
			 1995 1,535.2   
			 1996 1,539.0   
			 1997 1,545.4   
			 1998 1,552.1 245.3 1,306.7 
			 1999 1,563.1 246.4 1,316.7 
			 2000 1,573.2 248.5 1,324.7 
			 2001 1,580.9 249.7 1,331.2 
			 2002 1,590.1 250.4 1,339.7 
			 2003(51) 1,599.9 251.1 1,348.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Berkshire(53)(5508070054) 
			 Year(52) Former county Bracknell Forest UA West Berkshire UA Reading UA Slough UA Windsor and Maidenhead UA Wokingham UA 
		
		
			 1975 661.1   
			 1976 665.4   
			 1977 670.8   
			 1978 676.8   
			 1979 681.9   
			 1980 688.7   
			 1981 697.9   
			 1982 703.8   
			 1983 709.3   
			 1984 717.0   
			 1985 724.8   
			 1986 734.1   
			 1987 739.4   
			 1988 744.9   
			 1989 745.0   
			 1990 750.8   
			 1991 751.9   
			 1992 757.1   
			 1993 762.9   
			 1994 768.1   
			 1995 778.7   
			 1996 786.4   
			 1997 792.8   
			 1998 795.8 109.0 143.7 144.1 118.0 133.0 148.1 
			 1999 796.8 109.8 144.1 143.5 118.5 132.9 147.9 
			 2000 800.7 109.7 144.2 143.9 119.7 133.7 149.5 
			 2001 803.3 109.7 144.5 144.7 120.6 133.5 150.3 
			 2002 802.0 109.6 143.8 144.2 119.9 134.0 150.5 
			 2003(51) 803.7 110.1 144.2 144.1 118.8 135.3 151.2 
		
	
	(51) Mid-2003 population estimates are the latest data available. Mid-2004 population estimates will be published on 25 August 2005.
	(52) Population estimates for 1981 to 2000 have been revised in light of the 2001 census. These figures are on 2001 boundaries. Figures for 1975 to 1980 are on 1981 boundaries.
	(53) The Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) between 1995 and 1998 resulted in major changes to some county boundaries. From 1997 Milton Keynes UA was no longer included in Buckinghamshire. From 1998 Medway UA was no longer included in Kent and Southend-on-Sea UA and Thurrock UA were no longer included in Essex. Also in 1998 Berkshire ceased to exist and was split into Reading UA, Bracknell Forest UA, West Berkshire UA, Slough UA, Windsor and Maidenhead UA and Wokingham UA.
	(54) The data for 1975 to 1980 and for 1981 to 2003 are not directly comparable due to a number of boundary changes (in addition to the Local Government Reorganisation) between 1981 and 2001. There have been no boundary changes since mid-2001 affecting these counties.
	Notes:
	1. Population estimates are shown in thousands and rounded to the nearest 100 people.
	2. Figures may not add exactly due to rounding.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

National Statistics

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population of (a) Stroud District and (b) Gloucestershire was in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Drew, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the populations of (a) Stroud and (b) Gloucestershire in each of the last five years for which figures are available. (13616)
	The most recent population estimates published are for mid-2003. (Estimates for mid-2004 will be published on 25 August 2005.) Therefore, the table below provides population estimates for Stroud and Gloucestershire for mid-1999 to mid-2003.
	
		Mid-year population estimates: 1999 to 2003
		
			 Thousand 
		
		
			  Stroud Gloucestershire 
			 1999 107.7 561.0 
			 2000 107.9 564.6 
			 2001 108.0 565.0 
			 2002 108.2 565.9 
			 2003 108.8 568.5 
		
	
	Note:
	Population estimates are shown in thousands and rounded to the nearest 100 people.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Red Diesel

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his plans for the red diesel rebate will affect the position of charter angling boats; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The excise duty paid on marine fuel (red diesel) used by crewed charter vessels with paying customers is fully repayable under the terms of the Energy Products Directive (2003/96/EC Article 14(1)(c) ).

Registrar General

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications were received by the Registrar General during the period 1997 to 2004 in response to the concession announced on 21 April 1993 whereby personal information could be extracted from the 1911 decennial census if it would enable the applicant to establish a legal entitlement such as an inheritance.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Michael Hancock, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many applications were received during the period 1997 to 2004 in response to the concession announced on 21st April 1993 whereby personal information could be extracted from the 1911 decennial census if it would enable the applicant to establish a legal entitlement such as an inheritance. (13577)
	During the period 1997 to 2004 there were 5 applications for the release of personal information from the 1911 census for the purpose of establishing a legal entitlement.

Revenue and Customs

Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire of 16 May requesting a meeting with the appropriate Minister to discuss the closure of the Revenue and Customs office in Droitwich Spa.

Dawn Primarolo: The chairman of HM Revenue and Customs replied to the hon. Gentleman on 19 July.

Revenue and Customs

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are engaged in the handling, processing and analysis of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) returns; and what proportion of that staff time is attributable to returns in respect of transactions below the SDLT threshold.

Ivan Lewis: On average, 276 staff in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are currently engaged in the handling, processing and analysis of SDLT returns. This encompasses guidance and supportby telephone and through correspondencefor customers submitting returns. We do not keep records for the proportion of staff time spent on transactions below the SDLT threshold.

Suicides

Chris Bryant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) male and (b) female suicides there have been in each year since 1975.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Bryant, dated 20 July 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) male and (b) female suicides there have been in each year since 1975. (13413)
	In routine statistics, ONS defines suicides as deaths from both intentional self-harm and 'injury of undetermined intent'. The most recent available figures are for the calendar year 2003. The figures in the attached table show the numbers of deaths for intentional self-harm and injury of undetermined intent by sex for the calendar years 1975 to 2003.
	
		Number of deaths from intentional self-harm(55) and injury of undetermined intent(56) by sex, England and Wales, 1975 to 2003(57)
		
			 Calendar year Males Females 
		
		
			 1975 2,938 2,132 
			 1976 3,131 2,193 
			 1977 3,158 2,245 
			 1978 3,256 2,251 
			 1979 3,341 2,280 
			 1980 3,392 2,291 
			 1981 3,590 2,188 
			 1982 3,542 2,110 
			 1983 3,548 1,987 
			 1984 3,619 1,988 
			 1985 3,813 2,052 
			 1986 3,819 1,865 
			 1987 3,817 1,740 
			 1988 4,174 1,761 
			 1989 3,779 1,542 
			 1990 4,050 1,494 
			 1991 4,058 1,428 
			 1992 4,060 1,426 
			 1993 3,875 1,376 
			 1994 3,887 1,257 
			 1995 3,830 1,327 
			 1996 3,654 1,239 
			 1997 3,722 1,259 
			 1998 3,929 1,225 
			 1999 3,904 1,284 
			 2000 3,659 1,262 
			 2001 3,538 1,167 
			 2002 3,470 1,195 
			 2003 3,458 1,201 
		
	
	(55) The cause of death for intentional self harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Eighth Revision (ICD-8) codes E950-E959 for the years 1975 to 1978, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 for the years 1986 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84.
	(56) The cause of death for injury of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Eighth Revision (ICD-8) codes E980-E989 for the years 1975 to 1978, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1986 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.
	(57) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year from 1975 to 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 onwards.

Tax Credits

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been in receipt of the incorrect level of working tax credit, broken down by constituency; how many of these could not have been reasonably expected to know that a mistake had been made; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Overpayments can arise for a number of reasons or from a combination of factors, for example, when a claimant's entitlement varies following a change in their circumstances.
	Overpayments such as those arising from a change in circumstance or income are a normal feature of the tax credits system. They are not errors.
	It is not possible to give separate information on underpayments and overpayments for working tax credits and child tax credits, nor is it possible to identify the cause of these overpayments or underpayments at constituency level.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people have been waiting for an appeal relating to their tax credit payments in each month since 2002;
	(2)  what the total number of appeals on tax credit awards settled by agreement has been for each month since 2002;
	(3)  what the average length of time taken to process appeals for tax credits has been (a) when the case has been settled by agreement, (b) when the case has proceeded to a tribunal, (c) in all other cases and (d) in all cases in total for each of the last two years;
	(4)  what length of time the longest tax credit appeal case has taken.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department aims to settle tax credits appeals by agreement with the claimant wherever possible. If agreement is not reached in this way, the Department refers the appeal, an explanation of their decision and any relevant papers to the Appeals Service who arrange for appeals to be heard by an independent appeals tribunal.
	No information is available on the average length of time taken to process appeals for tax credits or on the length of time taken on the longest tax credit appeal case, as this is not data that the Department collates. The Appeals Service aims to consider an appeal referred to them within 12 weeks of receipt of the submission, and in 200405 achieved an average of less than eight weeks.
	Until recently the Department did not collate figures relating to the number of people with an open appeal. However, the Department holds recent information on this, and figures for the last three months are:
	
		
			 Month end Total number open of appeals 
		
		
			 March 2005 11,500 
			 April 2005 7,500 
			 May 2005 6,500 
		
	
	No figures are available of the number of appeals settled by agreement each month. But for the year to 31 March 2005 the Department had dealt with around 37,000 appeals, and of these around 1,650 were resolved at an appeals tribunal. So around 95 per cent. of tax credits appeals are settled by agreement.
	The appeals process is explained in more detail in leaflet WTC/AP, available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/wtc_ap.pdf.
	Information on appeals dealt with by a tribunal can be found at: http://www.appeals-service.gov.uk/.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many of the overpaid tax credit awards in 200304 he expects to be rectified; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what proportion of the tax credit overpayment in 200304, excluding overpayments of 10 or less, he expects to be recovered.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 96W.

Tax Credits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of over-payment of tax credits are awaiting a decision in the Chorley constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: Details on the number of disputed overpayments awaiting a decision by constituency are not available.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if HM Revenue and Customs will send all customers who have received an overpayment, a letter setting out (a) the total amount they owe, (b) the reasons why the overpayment or excess payment in-year occurred and the date or dates it happened and (c) the applicable repayment arrangements enclosing a copy of Code of Practice 26 and drawing particular attention to the circumstances when recovery can be waived and the availability of additional tax credits in cases of hardship;
	(2)  whether, when in-year recovery of excess tax credits is justified, the Revenue will take steps to pay additional tax credits automatically to families in receipt of income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance;
	(3)  if he will take steps to ensure that all HM Revenue and Customs staff who have contact with tax credit customers are alert to the circumstances when additional tax credits might be appropriate so that they can invite an immediate claim;
	(4)  whether, when it has been decided that an excess payment in-year is recoverable in accordance with Code of Practice 26, recovery will be at the same rates as those for overpayments in the previous year;
	(5)  if he will take steps to ensure that (a) customers are alerted on the payments page of an award notice to the fact that the recovery of an overpayment of tax credits can be challenged if the overpayment was due to official error and in circumstances where a customer reasonably thought they were being paid the correct amount and (b) customers' attention will be drawn on the same page to Code of Practice 26 and the fact that, if they want to dispute an overpayment, they need to complete form TC846;
	(6)  if he will ensure that HM Revenue and Customs do not seek to recover either an excess payment made in the current year, or an overpayment from the previous year, until it has come to a decision, based on all the relevant facts, as to whether or not the excess payment should be recovered in accordance with Code of Practice 26;
	(7)  if he will take steps to ensure that tax credits staff who are in direct contact with customers are made aware of situations where interim payments of tax credits may be appropriate;
	(8)  if he will (a) print details of the availability of additional tax credits prominently on the payments page of an award notice and (b) give greater prominence to the issue of financial hardship and how HM Revenue and Customs can help in the guidance notes which accompany an award notice;
	(9)  if, whenever a Revenue error is identified which has led to an overpayment of tax credits, the customer will be immediately notified of what has happened and informed of the circumstances when recovery can be waived;
	(10)  if his Department will consider writing off all excess and overpayments caused by official error which occurred during 200304 and 200405;
	(11)  if his Department will consider adoption of a statutory test for recovery of excess payments and overpayments of tax credits, consistent with the test that is applied to social security benefits, with a right of appeal to an independent tribunal.

Dawn Primarolo: The hon. Gentleman's questions relate to the recommendations in the report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Tax Credits: Putting Things Right. I am considering the report and, as my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said in the debate on 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 723, I shall be providing the Parliamentary Ombudsman with my response shortly.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the largest annual income for a household in receipt of tax credits was in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the development of rural road networks in Africa.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises the importance of improved rural road networks; which significantly improves the access that poor people have to markets, health services and schools. We support the view of the Commission for Africa that without investment in rural infrastructure, and rural roads in particular, potential for economic growth and improved livelihoods will not be fully realised.
	DFID directly supports rural road development in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria. Our policy recognises the importance of adopting labour-based road-building technologies where appropriate, to maximise employment, and the need for adequate attention to maintenance.

Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to withhold aid from any regime in Africa on the grounds of their political policies.

Hilary Benn: DFID has recently launched a new policy on conditionality. Our policy makes it clear that we do not believe that conditionality can buy reform. Our aid programmes are based on partner commitment to reducing poverty, respect for human rights and international obligations and the strengthening of financial systems. Should a partner country move substantially away from these commitments, then we will consider revoking our aid commitments.
	Within this framework of partner commitments, 'political policies' per se are not specifically identified. But political actions which relate to rights and international obligations, for example with respect to good governance, the rule of law and conduct of elections, will be considered in respect of whether a country is substantially undermining the basis of our partnership.

Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how he plans to ensure that UK aid and debt relief is directed to those who need it most in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development uses a financial model to help inform decisions on bilateral aid allocation in Africa and other regions. The model takes account of the extent of a country's poverty and the likely effectiveness of aid in reducing poverty there. The amount of aid which countries are likely to receive from other donors is also taken into account. As such, there is a good correlation between UK aid to African countries and levels of poverty. For example, the three poorest countries in terms of GNI per capita, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Tanzania, are also the three highest recipients of UK aid per capita.
	Once aid has been allocated, we take a number of actions to ensure it reaches the poor and impacts on poverty. We have learnt that the best way for aid to deliver sustainable poverty reduction is to support developing countries own prioritiesand to build capacity and accountability for delivery of services which improve the lives of the poor. As such, we help countries to develop and implement their own Poverty Reduction Strategies, which take into account the interests and needs of the poor. An important part of this is to strengthen monitoring systems and the accountability of governments to their citizens (including the poor). We also work closely with countries to strengthen public financial management and tackle corruption.
	Before providing funds directly through government systems, we undertake a rigorous assessment of whether policies are sound and funds will be properly used. Where risks are too high, we channel funds directly to the poor through the United Nations or non-government organisations.
	Debt relief is provided to countries which qualify for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. This also requires that countries have demonstrated their commitment to poverty reduction through developing and implementing sound Poverty Reduction Strategies, which includes careful monitoring of impact on the poor.

African Health Workers

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many health workers were recruited from Africa by the respective G8 countries in each of the past 10 years for which records are available.

Hilary Benn: No figures are available for the number of health workers recruited from Africa by G8 countries over the last 10 years. For the UK, in September 2004, fewer than 5,600 doctors (4.9 per cent. of the total) working in NHS hospital and community health services had a primary medical qualification from Africa. Many of these have been working in the NHS for many years.
	UK policy explicitly prevents the targeting of developing countries for recruitment of health workers. An element of this policy is the code of practice for International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals (available at http://www.dh.gov.uk), which prevents the NHS from actively recruiting healthcare professionals from low and middle-income countries unless there is a Government-to-Government agreement in place. The code of practice was revised and strengthened last year to widen its scope to include temporary workers and to enable all healthcare organisations, including in the independent sector, to sign up to it's principles.

Arms Trade Treaty

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of the G8 countries are willing to sign the proposed international Arms Trade Treaty.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no text of an international treaty on the trade in conventional arms to which the Government has committed itself. Any eventual text will be the product of negotiations. We are working to secure a formal process of negotiation within the UN as soon as it is feasible to do so. We welcome the commitment made by G8 leaders at the Gleneagles summit on
	the need for further work to build a consensus for action to tackle the undesirable proliferation of conventional arms.

Court of Auditors

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what the status is of (a) investigations and (b) court cases resulting from ineligible expenditure referred to in paragraph (i) 65 on page 345, (ii) 43 on page 335, (iii) 31 on page 332, (iv) 9.45 and (v) 7.39 of the European Court of Auditors annual report for 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The European Court of Auditors cannot at this stage provide a greater level of specific information on the first three points than has been provided so far through its adopted reports. This is in order to protect the professional relationship between the Court, the Commission and any other institutions involved. Audit findings remain confidential while investigations continue.
	In the fourth case (referred to in paragraph 9.45) it is encouraging that the Economic and Social Committee have taken corrective action to prevent similar errors recurring in future. In the case reported in paragraph 7.39, the irregularities (found at the level of implementing organisations) were not fraud cases, and in the event of any resulting ineligible expenditure, the Commission will deduct those amounts from future declarations unless the organisation can produce additional evidence.

Debt

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much debt is owed by each developing country;
	(2)  who the top 20 creditor nations to the developing world are; and how much is owed to each.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not keep comprehensive records of the debts of developing countries or of debts owed to other creditor nations. Further information can however be found at http://devdata.worldbank.org/data-query. Details of the debts of heavily indebted poor countries to individual creditors are also provided in the heavily indebted poor countries Statistical Updates, available at www.worldbank.org/debt.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of EU development assistance in the Democratic Rupublic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The EU has an important role in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in terms of political support to the transition and as a donor. EU member states and the EC work together in Brussels and Kinshasa to try to ensure that messages and actions are properly co-ordinated. The EU's special representative to the Great Lakes, Aldo Ajello, has an important role in helping to ensure the effectiveness of EU engagement.
	The European Commission has a large and ambitious programme in the difficult operating environment of the DRC. EC support to the DRC over the period 200307 is 205 million. We work closely with the EC on all aspects of their programme and believe it to be effective.
	The EC have so far committed 80 million to DRC's elections trust fund managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), making the EC the largest donor to the electoral process in the DRC. It is also providing up to 8.9 million to the elections security project to train and equip DRC's police force in preparation for the series of elections due in the next year.
	The EC also has substantial involvement in providing support on health and water and sanitation. It chairs the water and sanitation donor group in Kinshasa and is also an active member on the donor group supporting the development of the DRC's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. The EC is also active in work to improve the management of the DRC's natural resources, in particular in forestry, and is developing a new justice sector programme in the East of DRC.
	There are also two EU member state joint missions currently operating in the DRC. EUPol Kinshasa is training and equipping 1,008 members of the Congolese National Police to protect Kinshasa's key institutions over the course of the transition period. EUSec DRC is providing expertise on security sector reform to the Government of DRC. DFID are funding two UK security sector reform experts to take part in this mission.
	One of the key ways of improving all aid effectiveness in the DRC is through better co-ordination among donors and harmonisation of their approaches within the framework of national plans. There is an active discussion under way in Kinshasa on how to promote this, including DFID, the EC and other donors. One of the priorities for the UK's EU presidency role in Kinshasa is making progress on improved donor co-ordination and aid effectiveness in the DRC.
	Globally, the EC's reforms of its external assistance overall are beginning to show improvements in efficiency and better portfolio management. While this is very encouraging, DFID continues to monitor EC effectiveness closely.

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above 1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Gareth Thomas: All contracts issued by DFID Headquarters are published on the DFID website. Significant IT purchases are made through the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) framework agreements and reported separately to the OGC. Collating expenditure figures for all DFID Departments would incur a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The number of home civil service (HCS) full time equivalent staff that have worked for DFID in each of the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of HCS staff 
		
		
			 2004 1,780 
			 2003 1,600 
			 2002 1,520 
			 2001 1,260 
			 2000 1,210 
		
	
	The figures given above, at 1 April each year, are published in Table C of Civil Service Statistics 2004copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. The comparable figure for 1 April 2005 is 1,830.
	In addition to permanent and pensionable HCS staff, DFID also employs a number of staff on fixed term contracts (FTC) to work on development assistance programmes in the UK and overseas, as well as a large number of locally engaged staff, or staff appointed in country (SAIC), to work in its network of overseas offices. The corresponding figures for these categories of staff are as follows:
	
		
			  FTC SAIC 
		
		
			 2005 40 990 
			 2004 150 910 
			 2003 260 870 
			 2002 360 740 
			 2001 540 420 
			 2000 600 400 
		
	
	Note:
	All of the quoted figures above are rounded to the nearest 10.

Equatorial Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what aid his Department gave to Equatorial Guinea in 200405; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the education system in Equatorial Guinea;
	(3)  what proportion of girls remained in education up to the age of 15 years in Equatorial Guinea in 2004;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the health concerns facing the people of Equatorial Guinea; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not have a bilateral development programme in Equatorial Guinea. Our assistance is provided through multilateral channels such as the European Commission, UN agencies and the World Bank. The UK share of the EC's official development assistance was 0.3 million in 2000, 0.3 million in 2001, 2.72 million in 2002, and 0.96 million in 2003. The figure for 2004 is not yet available.
	The latest World Development Indicators show that the percentage of female pupils in secondary education was: 38 per cent. in 2000, 38 per cent. in 2001 and 41 per cent. in 2002. Total adult literacy in 2000 was 83 per cent.; 74 per cent. for females and 93 per cent. for males. The gross enrolment ratio of females as a percentage of males at secondary school between 19982002 was 58 per cent.
	DFID has made no health assessment of Equatorial Guinea.

Fair Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what agreements the G8 countries reached during the Gleneagles summit on promoting the sale of fair trade goods.

Hilary Benn: As stated in the G8 Africa Communique, the G8 'welcomed the growing market for fair trade goods and their positive effect in supporting livelihoods and increasing public awareness of the positive role of trade and development.' Paragraphs 22 (d) . In the UK, DFID has provided 750,000 over three years to the Fairtrade Foundation (FTF) in support of its development awareness and education campaigns. Through investing in the future of Fairtrade, DFID aims to help achieve sustained improvement in livelihoods of disadvantaged producers in the south.

G8 (Africa/Palestine)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the $25 billion in new money for development for Africa committed at the recent G8 meeting will be paid by (a) the UK and (b) the European Union; and over what time scale in each case.

Hilary Benn: Commitments made by the G8 and other donors will lead to an increase in official development assistance to Africa of $25 billion a year by 2010.
	By 2010, the UK's contribution to the additional $25 billion is likely to be around $3.3 billion. In the period of the current spending review, we are committed to providing over 1.2 billion to Africa in financial years of 200708, which will increase to 2.10 billion ($3.3 billion) by 2010.
	The EU has committed to double aid by 2010 from around $40 billion a year in 2004 to over $80 billion a year in 2010 and has agreed to allocate at least 50 per cent. of this increase to Africa. Therefore, by 2010, the EU will collectively provide $20 billion of the additional $25 billion.

G8 (Africa/Palestine)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the $25 billion in new money for development for Africa agreed at the recent G8 meeting is planned to be allocated to (a) caring for AIDS orphans, (b) eradicating polio, (c) primary education, (d) secondary education, (e) university and further education and (f) tackling (i) malaria, (ii) HIV/AIDS and (iii) tuberculosis; and by what mechanism the money will be distributed in each case.

Hilary Benn: As G8 leaders agreed at the Gleneagles summit,
	it is up to African countries themselves and their Governments to lead on development.
	This includes deciding how best to use resources to accelerate progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. These policy decisions cannot and should not be imposed by donors. The UK will therefore provide additional resources in support of national poverty reduction plans, where partners have shown that they are committed to poverty reduction, protecting human rights and improving public financial management. We will deliver this as far as possible through national budgets, with more than half of our country programmes as poverty reduction budget or programme support by 200708. We will encourage G8 partners to do the same.
	There are a few cases where aid is earmarked for sectors at the global level and channelled through specific mechanisms. This is generally for reasons of international co-ordination or advocacy. For example, funding for polio will be channelled through the polio eradication initiative. The UK has committed 20 million to close the polio funding gap this year and the G8 has committed to ensuring that the $829 million needed for 200608 found. The G8 committed to replenish the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (which needs $7.18 billion for 200508) and ensure that the education for all fast track initiative has the resources necessary for countries to implement their education strategies (estimated to require $2.3 billion extra a year). In the case of the fast track initiative, resources may either be channelled through the initiative or directly to support national education strategies. For both AIDS and education, additional resources will be required beyond those channelled through these global mechanisms. These will largely be provided by donors in support of developing countries' national strategies.

G8 (Africa/Palestine)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the $3 billion aid package for the Palestinian Authority agreed by the G8 is intended for (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank.

Hilary Benn: The G8 expressed support at the Gleneagles summit for Mr. James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, to stimulate a global financial contribution of up to $3 billion per year over the coming three years. This will assist Palestinian economic regeneration and further Palestinian governance reform following Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
	Mr. Wolfensohn is working closely with both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel to assess what needs to be done. Priority areas for joint working include: freedom of movement for Palestinians to move and trade; the fate of settlement assets, houses and greenhouses; a link between Gaza and the West Bank; and the need for a Gaza airport and seaport. Reform priorities for the Palestinians are: fiscal stabilisation; preparation of a medium-term development plan; and funding a package of quick impact economic programmes. The UK is working with the PA and the World Bank to help develop the PA's integrated development plan for Gaza and the West Bank. DFID is looking for the best way to support this and Mr. Wolfensohn's plans.

G8 (Africa/Palestine)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the $3 billion aid package for the Palestinian authority agreed by the G8 is being contributed by the UK; and how it is to be distributed.

Hilary Benn: The G8 expressed support at the Gleneagles summit for Mr. James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, to stimulate a global financial contribution of up to $3 billion per year over the coming three years. This will assist Palestinian economic regeneration and governance reform following Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Details of how funding would be distributed have yet to be finalised. The UK is working closely with Mr. Wolfensohn and the Palestinian authority to help develop their plans and to ensure that our assistance is targeted at the highest priorities.
	DFID's current plans are to spend 30 million per year on bilateral assistance to the Palestinians. DFID also contributes our share of European Community spending, amounting to a further 30 million last year. In 200405, the UK also contributed some 3.5 million through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool. This is jointly administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and DFID.

G8 (Africa/Palestine)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures have been taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of aid promised to the Palestinian Authority following the G8 summit.

Hilary Benn: The G8 expressed support at the Gleneagles summit for James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, to stimulate a global financial contribution of up to $3 billion per year over the coming three years. This will assist the Palestinians following Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. International financial support will depend on the Palestinian Authority (PA) providing a credible financial plan for development, with guarantees of fiscal prudence and transparency.
	A significant proportion of UK aid to the PA is channelled through the World Bank-managed Public Financial Management Reform Trust Fund. Disbursement of funding is conditional on the PA's achievement of agreed reform benchmarks and is carefully monitored by the World Bank. Substantial improvements in the transparency and accountability of the PA's financial management systems have been made in recent years.

G8 (Africa/Palestine)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions took place in advance of the G8 summit between members of the G8 and the Palestinian Authority in respect of aid to the Authority; and what agreements have been entered into between the Authority and the G8 relating to aid.

Hilary Benn: Quartet Special Envoy for disengagement James Wolfensohn is working closely with both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel to assess what needs to be done in order to support economic development and further Palestinian governance reform. Mr. Wolfensohn is leading in discussions with the PA, and has identified three key areas of reform: fiscal stabilisation; medium-term development planning; and quick impact economic programmes. He briefed the G8 fully at the Foreign Ministers' meeting on 23 June and at the summit in Gleneagles. G8 members support his excellent work. G8 members are also in contact with the PA bilaterally.
	At the G8 summit in Gleneagles, the G8 expressed its support for Mr. Wolfensohn's intention to stimulate a global financial contribution of up to $3 billion per year from private and public sector sources for the next three years. No explicit agreements have yet been entered into. The UK, along with the rest of the international community, is considering how we can best support this. International financial support will be dependent on the PA providing a credible financial plan for development, with guarantees of fiscal prudence and transparency.

Gender Equality (Africa)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what proportion of the funds pledged during the Gleneagles Summit will be used to promote gender equality in Africa;
	(2)  what agreements were reached at the G8 Summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal (a) to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education and (b) that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling are reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 Summit.

Hilary Benn: At the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, the G8 Heads agreed a package of comprehensive support to help accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in Africa which is falling behind. In advance of the Summit, the United Nations published a comprehensive review of prospects for achieving the MDGs called 'Investing in Development', which informed UK policy.
	As part of the Gleneagles agreement, the G8 leaders agreed to support African Governments' commitment to ensure that, by 2015, all children have access to and complete free and compulsory education of good quality. We also called on African countries to implement the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and its protocols, in order to encourage respect for the rights of ethnic minorities, women and children.
	The UK firmly believes, as the G8 Heads recognised, that it should be up to developing countries to decide how best to use resources on a country-by-country basis to achieve the MDGs. The additional resources should therefore not be allocated to specific sectors. We will support developing countries to build on their existing national strategies and processes such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy process to develop more ambitious plans for achieving the MDGs, including with increased resources. In some limited cases, commitments have been made for specific interventions at the global level. This is generally for reasons of international coordination or advocacy. Support is still for implementation of nationally defined policies. In the case of the Education for All Fast Track Initiative, resources can be channelled through the Initiative or provided directly to support national education strategies. At Gleneagles, the G8 Heads agreed to ensure that this Initiative has the resources necessary for countries to implement their education strategies (estimated to cost around US$2.3 billion extra per year).

Gross Domestic Product

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of gross domestic product was allocated to aid to developing countries in each of the last 30 years.

Hilary Benn: The internationally recognised statistic is the oda/GNI ratio, ie official development assistance (oda) as a percentage of a donor's gross national income (GNI). The ratio for the UK over the past 30 years is set out as follows:
	
		UK oda/GNI ratio
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1975 0.38 
			 1976 0.39 
			 1977 0.44 
			 1978 0.46 
			 1979 0.51 
			 1980 0.35 
			 1981 0.43 
			 1982 0.37 
			 1983 0.35 
			 1984 0.33 
			 1985 0.33 
			 1986 0.31 
			 1987 0.28 
			 1988 0.32 
			 1989 0.31 
			 1990 0.27 
			 1991 0.32 
			 1992 0.31 
			 1993 0.31 
			 1994 0.31 
			 1995 0.29 
			 1996 0.27 
			 1997 0.26 
			 1998 0.27 
			 1999 0.24 
			 2000 0.32 
			 2001 0.32 
			 2002 0.31 
			 2003 0.34 
			 2004 (58)0.36 
		
	
	(58) provisional
	Source:
	DAC Online Database

Health Care (Developing Countries)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on charging user fees for healthcare in developing countries;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the World Bank on charging user fees for healthcare in developing countries.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member for Banbury to my response given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 30 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1679680W.

Health Care (Developing Countries)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he expects user fees for healthcare in developing countries to be addressed at the G8 summit.

Hilary Benn: The G8 summit discussed financing of healthcare in Africa. The Africa communique said people should have
	access to basic health care (free wherever countries choose to provide this).
	DFID is encouraging the removal of charges at the point of need in basic healthcare. We successfully sought, significantly increased resources for health and other priorities at the summit. However we recognise that the question of user fees is one for partner countries and that there are different approaches to financing healthcare.

Iran

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of British emergency aid in the aftermath of the Iranian earthquake in Bam.

Gareth Thomas: The UK committed 3.7 million in response to humanitarian needs in the wake of the Bam earthquake of 26 December 2003, including the UK's share of the European community contribution. DFID humanitarian advisors conducted two monitoring missions to assess the effectiveness of this support. The British embassy, Tehran has also been involved in monitoring the response. On the basis of this monitoring, we believe our assistance was well targeted, effective and appreciated by the beneficiaries.
	DFID focussed its immediate support on life saving action through deployed search and rescue teams, the provision of tents and shelter materials and the hiring of aircraft for delivery of relief items and in the medium-term to sectors where it could have the greatest impact, including urban water supply and sanitation, primary health care and agricultural irrigation and livestock replenishment.
	DFID support to Bam's agricultural sector was provided through the United Nations Development Programme for its work to repair wells and irrigation channels and for Action Against Hunger's work to provide livelihoods for vulnerable families. DFID assistance contributed to a successful 2004 date harvest of higher quality and quantity than normal and also to the provision of livelihoods to 1,200 families, including providing goats to several hundred families. DFID's funds through the United Nations Development Programme were almost completely spent on providing water supply for agriculture in and around Bam. This covered 10 per cent. of the agricultural area of Bam, and in that area prevented the date groves from drying up at a crucial point in the agricultural cycle. The United Nations Development Programme estimated that there would otherwise have been an 80 per cent. smaller date harvest.
	In the health sector, the humanitarian effort prevented outbreaks of disease despite the threat following earthquakes. DFID played an important part in this, channelling its support through the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its activities in primary health care, and also through the United Nations Children Fund for its work in water and sanitation. There were delays by WHO in kitting out 10 urban health centres because of slower than expected progress in building the health centres, which were late in starting because of the need to wait for the necessary planning permission.
	A planned commitment of 450,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) was not disbursed, as the IFRC subsequently advised us that our support was no longer needed as their appeal was sufficiently funded by other contributions they received.

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list Bills sponsored by his Department in each Session since 1997.

Hilary Benn: DFID has sponsored two Bills since 1997. They were enacted as the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999 and the International Development Act 2002.

Malaria

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what sums have been allocated to fight malaria in (a) Kenya, (b) Burundi, (c) Ethiopia, (d) Malawi and (e) Eritrea, with particular reference to (i) children and (ii) pregnant women in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: DFID supports malaria control through bilateral programmes in a number of countries. The following table shows the total funding DFID has provided for projects for malaria and other communicable diseases in Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi and Eritrea.
	In addition, DFID has spent a further 13 million in these five countries on health projects which may have an impact on malaria. DFID is increasingly funding the broader health plans of developing countries. Such projects will build Governments' capacity to make the best use of their resources to diagnose and treat all main causes of illness.
	
		000
		
			  Financial year 
			 Countries 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Kenya 3,488 3,765 5,117 
			 Burundi 238 1,400 0 
			 Ethiopia 0 2,473 0 
			 Malawi 1,568 3,793 2,505 
			 Eritrea 0 0 0 
		
	
	DFID is also a major donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). We have pledged more than 259 million through to 2008. Approximately 31 per cent. of GFATM funds go to malaria control, including projects in all five of these countries.
	Further information on total funding in these countries for malaria control can be obtained from the World Malaria Report 2005: http://rbm.who.int/wmr2005
	DFID supports countries to focus on groups most vulnerable to the impact of malariaspecifically pregnant women and children under five. For example in Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia, DFID has supported the provision of highly subsidised or free insecticide treated mosquito nets to these groups.

Malaria

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what budget has been allocated to fund the provision of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in Africa in 200506; and for how many people he estimates this will provide protection.

Hilary Benn: DFID provides finance for malaria control, including long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs), through bilateral country programmes, support to multilateral organisations such as the World Bank and European Commission, and contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. DFID also works with other donors to support national malaria programmes. When funds are pooled in these ways, it is not possible to calculate the exact number of LLINs distributed as a direct result of DFID support.
	However, we estimate that in 200506, DFID bilateral expenditure on African mosquito net programmes will be 40 million, which will see eight to 10 million nets (a mixture of insecticide treated and long lasting insecticide-treated nets) distributed, protecting 16 to 20 million people.

Malawi

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Government aid has been allocated to the treatment of (a) HIV/AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria in Malawi in each of the last two years.

Hilary Benn: The Malawi National AIDS Strategy and the National AIDS Commission (NAC) are the foundation for DFID's support to HIV and AIDS. 3.5 million is allocated to support the national response for HIV and AIDS through pooled funding with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Norwegian Embassy and the World Bank to the NAC. The NAC is fully funded, by donors as well as Government of Malawi. There is no shortfall at the moment. Currently DFID has disbursed approximately 1 million towards this program. The following are the disbursement details:
	
		
			 Financial year Disbursed amount () 
		
		
			 200304 500,000 
			 200506 400,000 
			 Total 900,000 
		
	
	More support is also channelled through the Ministry of Health through the Sexual Reproductive Health programme. It is however difficult to disaggregate HIV spend. Expenditure for the programme has been as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Disbursed amount () 
		
		
			 200304 5,871,583 
			 200405 5,958,780 
			 Total 11,830,363 
		
	
	DFID also supports the Banja La Mtsogolo Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (BLM) to promote safer sexual and reproductive health practices by Malawians including increased use of high quality, accessible sexual reproductive health services which complement government services. Expenditure for the past two areas including technical assistance is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Disbursed amount () 
		
		
			 200304 977,759 
			 200405 1,395,854 
			 Total 2,373,604 
		
	
	DFID provides support to the Malawi National TB Control Programme. The purpose of the National TB Control Programme is to improve on an equitable basis, case detection, and quality of diagnosis and TB treatment outcomes. DFID's expenditure for past two years is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Disbursed amount () 
		
		
			 200304 779,024 
			 200405 752,560 
			 Total 1,531,584 
		
	
	DFID has been providing its support through UNICEF Malawi to assist the Ministry of Health in building the capacity of the Malaria National Control Programme, to be able to reduce the morbidity and mortality of children under 5 and women of childbearing age from malaria. The funds covered a wide range at central and district levels and included commodities (such as Insecticide Treated Bed nets, pre-treatment kits, and the drug Fansidar), social marketing, monitoring and supervision.
	DFID's expenditure for past two years is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Disbursed amount () 
		
		
			 200304 3,792,678 
			 200405 2,505,083 
			 Total 6,297,761

Malawi

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list non-governmental organisations in Malawi that seek to reduce poverty to which his Department has allocated funding in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID financed both directly and indirectly approximately 100 non-governmental organisations in Malawi over the course of the last three years. The following table lists those non-governmental organisation financed directly from DFID.
	
		
		
			 Non-governmental organisation 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Afrobarometer   10,348 
			 
			 Banja la Mtsogolo 1,868,670 1,309,288 1 ,635,202 
			 
			 Blantyre Synod  27,563  
			 
			 British Council 4,523   
			 
			 Civil Society Coalition for Basic Quality Education   (59)(109,608) 
			 
			 Concern Universal  206,429 363,399 
			 
			 Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) 124,362 846,487 621,654 
			   (59)(189,033) (59)(332,970) 
			 
			 Civil Society on Agriculture Network (CISANET)  25,000  
			 
			 Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR)   73,769 
			 
			 Federation for Disability Organisation in Malawi (FEDOMA)  19,542  
			 
			 Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre 2,149 11,964  
			 
			 Nation Democratic Institute 597,381 671,164 832,576 
			 
			 Opportunity International Bank of Malawi 331,117 1,230,968 246,556 
			 
			 OXFAM  738,667 279,173 
			 
			 Public Affairs Committee (PAC)   23,977 
			 
			 Pan African Civic Educators Network Trust (PACENET) 5,592   
			 
			 Penal Reform International 446,412 548,340 894,540 
			 
			 Society of Accountants of Malawi (SOCAM)  1,049  
			 
			 White Ribbon Alliance  7,194  
			 
			 Women and Law Society in Southern Africa (Wilsa)   6,724 
		
	
	(59) DFID managed Dutch funds are shown in brackets.
	DFID Malawi has also supported non-governmental organisations in Malawi indirectly through its support to the National Aids Commission, through the Tikambirane governance programme (managed by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and British High Commission (BHC)) and the National Sexual and Reproductive Health programme with Government of Malawi where responsibility for the direct engagement with civil society is held by our partners. In these instances it is difficult to itemise DFID's share of financing to each non-governmental organisation given the nature of the funding mechanisms used. DFID South Africa also supports non-governmental organisations in Malawi indirectly through the following regional programmes: the Soul City Regional Programme; the Roll Back Malaria Programme; and the Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Programme.
	DFID Malawi works in partnership with non-governmental organisations operating in Malawi in order to help promote the outcomes of the Government of Malawi's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. To this end, DFID also works to strengthen civil society's capacity to work with government at the policy level through country, regional and centrally funded initiatives.

Millennium Development Goals

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(2)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal to reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(3)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit atGleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal target to make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies, in co-operation with the private sector, is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(4)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(5)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers is reached by 2020; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(6)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory and includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction nationally and internationally is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(7)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to address the least developed countries special needs is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(8)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing states is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(9)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to develop decent and productive work for youth in cooperation with the developing countries is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit.

Hilary Benn: At the G8 summit at Gleneagles, G8 Heads agreed a package of comprehensive support to help accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in Africa which is falling behind. In advance of the summit, the United Nations published a comprehensive review of prospects for achieving the MDGs called 'Investing in Development', which informed UK policy.
	This package of support includes substantial additional resources: an extra US$50 billion globally and US$25 billion for Africa by 2010. In addition, the G8 agreed debt cancellation worth up to US$40 billion for 18 of the poorest countries and up to $55 billion for 38 countries in total.
	On trade, the G8 Heads expressed political commitment to an ambitious outcome at the Doha ministerial in Hong Kong and committed to provide increased assistance for building the capacity to trade. The additional resources will be targeted where they can make the most difference: on low-income countries that are committed to growth and poverty reduction, to a democratic, accountable and transparent government and to sound public financial management, while recognising that aid is important to respond to humanitarian crises and countries affected by or at risk of conflict.
	Achieving the MDGs to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and those who suffer from hunger will depend on progress in a range of different areas. This is why G8 Heads emphasised the importance of coordinated and coherent action.
	The Evian G8 water action plan commits G8 member countries to playing a more active role in the international efforts towards achieving the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals. At Gleneagles, G8 Heads agreed to increase aid to the sector, while maintaining political momentum and commitment on the water issue and reinforcing coordination and monitoring mechanisms. The UK recently announced it was doubling, over the next three years, its funding for improvements in water and sanitation in Africa.
	G8 Heads agreed a range of measures aimed at boosting growth and attracting new investment, contributing to building Africa's capacity to trade and improving the lives of slum dwellers. Work will continue on building an infrastructure consortium for Africa, involving the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the EU. The sectors to be covered by this major new effort are water and sanitation, energy, transport, telecommunications and urban infrastructure.
	Work will continue to support investment, enterprise development and innovation, for example, through support to the AU/NEPAD investment climate facility. International financial institutions and African Governments are encouraged to increase access to financial services for poor people through increased partnerships between commercial banks and micro-finance institutions.
	In recognition of the particular problems faced by least developed countries (LDC)s, the G8 committed to provide them with additional support for trade capacity building. They also agreed to work for appropriate flexibility in the Doha development agenda (DDA) trade negotiations to help LDCs to decide, plan and sequence their economic reforms in line with their country-led development programmes and their international obligations. Moreover, they reiterated their commitment to duty and quota for free market access for LDC products, and the importance of addressing products of interest to LDCs as part of the single undertaking of the DDA.
	The G8 summit did not reach any specific agreements regarding landlocked and small island development states, although other measures agreed there will benefit these countries, including additional development resources and progress on climate change and trade.
	G8 leaders committed to support youth employment in Africa for both men and women, including vocational education and training relevant to market demands.
	To help develop skilled professionals for Africa's private and public sectors, the G8 Heads agreed to support networks of excellence between African and other countries' institutions of higher education and centres of excellence in science and technology.

Millennium Development Goals

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goal target to reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five years is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(2)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(3)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(4)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to halt and begin to reverse the increase in the incidence of malaria and other major diseases is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit;
	(5)  what agreements were reached at the G8 summit at Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries in co-operation with pharmaceutical companies is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit.

Hilary Benn: At the G8 summit at Gleneagles, G8 Heads agreed a package of comprehensive support to help accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in Africa which is falling behind. In advance of the summit, the United Nations published a comprehensive review of prospects for achieving the MDGs called 'Investing in Development', which informed UK policy.
	G8 Heads agreed several specific measures to tackle the health and HIV/AIDS related MDGs. They undertook to support African Governments' commitment to ensure access to basic health care for all (free wherever countries choose to provide this) to reduce mortality among those most at risk of dying from preventable causes, particularly women and children. This includes a commitment to invest in improved health systems, which are critical for progress across the board.
	On malaria, the G8 committed to work with African countries to scale up action to reach 85 per cent. of the vulnerable populations with the interventions that will save 600,000 children's lives a year by 2015. These include ensuring access to anti-malaria insecticide-treated mosquito nets, adequate and sustainable supplies of Combination Therapies including Artemisin, presumptive treatment for pregnant women and babies, household residual spraying and the capacity in African health services to effectively use them.
	The G8 Heads committed to the aims of an AIDS-free generation, significantly reducing HIV infections, aiming as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all who need it by 2010 and ensuring proper support for all children left orphaned or vulnerable by AIDS. They committed to increase resources to tackle AIDS, including through replenishing the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria (GFATM). They also undertook to work with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and other international bodies to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, and to improve coordination through implementing the 'Three Ones' principles.
	To encourage the development of vaccines, microbicides and drugs for AIDS, TB, malaria and other neglected diseases, the G8 leaders committed to increase direct investment and take forward market incentives, through mechanisms such as Public Private Partnerships and Advance Purchase Commitments. We also re-affirmed our commitments made at the G8 summit at Evian, agreeing to improve access to affordable medicines by encouraging differential pricing of drugs by originator companies and by supporting the appropriate use of flexibilities in agreements on intellectual property rights where necessary.

Millennium Development Goals

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what agreements were reached at the G8 summit in Gleneagles to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals target to deal comprehensively with developing countries' debt problems through national and international measures to make debt sustainable in the long-term is reached in 2015; and what assessment the UK had made of the likelihood of meeting that target before the G8 summit.

Hilary Benn: G8 Finance Ministers met on 11 June and re-affirmed their commitment to the full implementation and financing of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. They also agreed a new proposal to cancel the debt stock of qualifying HIPCs to the International Development Association of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Fund of the African Development Bank. In addition, they agreed the need to find a solution to Nigeria's debts. G8 leaders re-affirmed their support for these agreements when they met at Gleneagles, and welcomed the Paris club's agreement on 29 June which will result in the elimination all of Nigeria's $29 billion bilateral debt to Paris club creditors.
	The UK is committed to broad and generous debt relief for poor countries in order to make debt sustainable in the long-term and to free up resources for their achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We continue to lobby others in support for this objective. Progress towards the Millennium Development Goals varies, but Sub Saharan Africa in particular will not meet any of the goals by 2015 if current rates of progress continue. We believe that debt relief, including the G8's new proposal, will help countries to make the investments in health, education and infrastructure, that are needed to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

Niger

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action has been taken by his Department to address the food shortage in Niger.

Hilary Benn: DFID has been closely monitoring the deteriorating nutritional situation in Niger, and recently conducted a humanitarian assessment in the Sahel region. DFID was one of the first donors to respond to the recent UN Flash Appeal providing, on 10 June 2005, an immediate initial donation of 500,000 to the World Food Programme's emergency food operation, which supplies food and nutritional inputs to up to one million highly vulnerable households.
	Following its recent assessment of the food security situation in the region, DFID has agreed to provide an additional 1,500,000 in humanitarian assistance to Niger, mainly through non-governmental organisations. This support will be focused on nutritional therapy, basic health care, improving food access and protection of livelihoods in the worst affected areas and will benefit up to one million people. We shall continue to monitor developments closely.

NPAD

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which African Union countries have had their country reviewed under the Africa Peer Review Mechanism of the New Partnership for African Development; and what assessment he has made of the findings of the reviews.

Hilary Benn: Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya and Mauritius signed up to the Africa Peer Review Mechanism in 2003 and are the first wave of countries currently undergoing peer review. Country review missions have been undertaken in Ghana and Rwanda and reports have been submitted to the respective governments. A summary of the Ghana report has been made publicly available. The formal peer review is then scheduled to take place in August 2005 at the next African Peer Review (APR) Forum (which consists of participating African Heads of State).
	We look forward to discussing the outcomes of the peer review with the Governments of Rwanda and Ghana after this time.

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent measures have been introduced to facilitate the reform of Palestinian security forces.

Hilary Benn: General Ward was appointed by the United States as Co-ordinator for Security Sector Reform in February. He is leading the mission established to facilitate reform of the Palestinian security forces following the 1 March London Meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority (PA). His mission has made progress with the PA in consolidating and restructuring the Palestinian security forces, although further reform is still required.
	The UK fully supports General Ward's mission, and has seconded a governance expert to his team. We are also supporting security sector reform through our contributions to the European Union Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUCOPPS). This has provided equipment and technical and operational assistance to the Palestinian civil police, and has worked with them to develop a Palestinian Civil Police Development Plan. This plan is now being implemented.

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in coordinating stronger ties between the Palestinian Authority and Israel in order to address Palestinian poverty.

Hilary Benn: Mr. James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, has identified six priority areas for joint working between Israelis and Palestinians in his plans for a successful Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. These include freedom of movement and trade for Palestinians, a transport link between Gaza and the West Bank, and an airport and seaport for Gaza. Some progress has been made, but there is still work to be done.
	Co-operation between the two parties and an easing of Israeli restrictions on movement of goods and people are essential for successful Palestinian economic regeneration and poverty reduction. The Palestinian Authority, for its part, needs to maintain and develop its programme of reforms. The UK is working closely with international partners on these fronts. The Government fully supports Mr. Wolfensohn's efforts and DFID has seconded a member of staff to his team to assist.

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what cooperation his Department has received from members of the Arab League in alleviating poverty in the Palestinian Territories.

Hilary Benn: Members of the Arab League contributed around $100 million to the Palestinians during 2004, approximately 80 per cent. from Saudi Arabia.
	Mr. James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, briefed G8 leaders at the Gleneagles summit on his plans to support Palestinian development in the context of disengagement and beyond. He received the full backing of G8 leaders. Mr. Wolfensohn has proposed contributions of up to $3 billion annually for the next 3 years from the international community. It is important that all those who are working for progress, including Arab states, support this initiative.

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of Israeli proposals to provide transport links between the West Bank and Gaza.

Hilary Benn: Free movement of goods and people between the West Bank and Gaza will be essential for Palestinian economic regeneration following Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Mr. James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, has identified the provision of a transport link between Gaza and the West Bank as one of six priority areas for joint action between Israelis and Palestinians. Current proposals include the use of convoys of buses, the construction of a sunken road, and a rail link. A committee, chaired by Mr. Wolfensohn, will study options for the future. The UK, along with other members of the international community, fully supports Mr. Wolfensohn's efforts.

School Twinning

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills establishing a scheme to twin schools in this country with schools in Africa.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 July 2005
	We are already working closely with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) on school twinning schemes. This fits with DFID objectives and with the DfES International Strategy. We fund a Global School Partnerships programme, which links schools in the UK with schools in developing countries; whereas the DfES has developed the Global Gateway, an international website to help schools find partner schools in other countries. Through the Global Gateway, the DfES has supported the BBC World Class project which links 1,000 schools in Africa with 1,000 schools in UK. Together with the DfES, DFID also provides co-funding for 80 places per year, specifically for teachers from developing countries, under the DfES Teachers' International Professional Development programme.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The total number of working days lost due to sickness in DFID over the past five calendar years, together with average number of days lost per employee, is as follows:
	
		Days
		
			  Total Average per employee 
		
		
			 2004 13,475 6.8 
			 2003 11,872 7.0 
			 2002 12,888 8.0 
			 2001 11,545 8.3 
			 2000 8,426 6.2 
		
	
	The figures given above, which relate only to home civil servants and those employed by DFID on UK fixed term contracts, are contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service published by the Cabinet Office. The most recent, covering the 2003 calendar year, was announced by ministerial statement on 1 November 2004. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
	At 1 April 2005, DFID also employed some 990 locally engaged staff, or staff appointed in country (SAIC), to serve in its network of overseas offices. Sickness absence records for SAIC are not held centrally and information on the number of working days lost due to sickness for these employees could be obtained only by incurring a disproportionate cost.

Somalia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the number of displaced Somalis crossing the border into Kenya to escape fighting; and whether his Department is providing humanitarian assistance.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not made any independent assessment of the number of displaced Somalis crossing the border into Kenya, however the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are 232,333 refugees in Kenya that require humanitarian support, of whom just over 151,000 are Somalis.
	We contributed 400,000 last year to support UNHCR's ongoing efforts to promote the voluntary repatriation of 23,000 Somali refugees in exile in Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Yemen and elsewhere. We are also currently considering providing further funding to the UNHCR through the 2005 UN Consolidated Appeals Process for Somalia.
	In the last two months, an estimated 15,000 Somalis people have crossed the border into Mandera district, Kenya following fighting between two rival clans. There have been some initial relief distributions from the UN and local NGOs. The Kenyan authorities, with local elders are meeting in the next few weeks to try and address the causes of the conflict. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs is coordinating a response to the situation. DFID's office in Kenya is closely monitoring the situation.

Sri Lanka

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the use of British aid in Sri Lanka following the tsunami.

Gareth Thomas: Immediately following the tsunami DFID provided some 7 million of direct assistance to Sri Lanka. In addition DFID financed a number of relief activities across the region, at a cost of over 26 million. While it is difficult to attribute precisely Sri Lanka's share of this funding, we would estimate that approximately one third, or 8.7 million, went to the island. The following table provides full details.
	To support longer term recovery Britain has agreed to meet 10 per cent. of the Government of Sri Lanka's interest payments to the World Bank, for the next 10 years. This will be worth over 41 million and the Government have agreed that the funds released will be spent on tsunami relief and recovery and on poverty reducing programmes for the poorest communities.
	Sri Lanka has received generous support from international organisations and from the public, sufficient to fully finance the recovery and reconstruction needs. However, following my visit to Sri Lanka last month I have agreed that we should offer further assistance to strengthen Government's capacity to implement these recovery programmes effectively and equitably. Discussions are under way in Sri Lanka to identify the best way to tackle this issue and programme DFID support.
	
		Sri Lanka: Post-tsunami assistance provided by British Government
		
			  UK () US ($) 
		
		
			 Donations in kind   
			 1. 5,000 tarpaulins and 246 tents for temporary shelter 27 December 2004 (including airlift) 250,000 482,500 
			  250,000 482,500 
			 DFID funded flights for Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) 
			 1. 2 January Save the Children (STN to CMB) 93,165 179,808 
			 2. 3 January World Vision (BDS to CMB) 161,975 312,612 
			 3. 12 January World Vision (DXB to CMB) 88,889 171,556 
			 4. 19 January World Vision (BRU to CMB) 22,949 44,292 
			 5. 21 January Merlin (LHR to CMB) 3,906 7,539 
			 6. 22 January OXFAM (EMA to CMB) 90,619 174,895 
			 7. 24 January Save the Children (EMA to CMB) 142,955 275,903 
			  604,458 1,166,604 
			 DFID staff secondments 
			 1. Air Operations (seconded to World Food Programme for 3 months from 4 January 2005) 28,000 54,040 
			 2. Humanitarian Information Centre (NIC) Advisor (seconded to OCHA for 3 months4 February 2005) 28,000 54,040 
			 3. Two watsan engineers (seconded to UNICEF for 3 months17 February 2005) 55,000 106,150 
			 4. Shelter Advisor (Seconded to UNHCR) 8,000 15,440 
			  119,000 229,670 
			 Funding through NGOs/ UN Agencies 
			 1. Save the Children Fund (non-food items, food, shelter, watsan) 400,000 772,000 
			 2. Basic needs (trauma and mental health) 57,993 111,926 
			 3 World Vision (Non-food items distribution, Shelter supply distribution) 250,000 482,500 
			 4. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (general tsunami appeal) 500,000 965,000 
			 5. World Food Programme (WFP) (food) 500,000 965,000 
			 6. Help Age (Distribution of non-food items and restoration of residential facilities for older people) 137,308 265,004 
			 7. Christian Aid, OFEER (1,000 transitional shelter units) 260,008 501,815 
			 8. Norwegian Refugee Council (1,000 transitional shelter units) 478,568 923,636 
			 9. Zoa (Water and sanitation, 2,000 transitional shelter units) 1,124,610 2,170,497 
			 10. Mercy Corps (livelihoods) 300,000 579,000 
			 12. Red R-IHE (shelter) 151,852 293,074 
			 13. OCHA (Co-ordination and information management) 250,000 482,500 
			 14. ADRA (livelihoods) 490,000 945,700 
			 15. International Health Partners (Airfreighting drugs) 32,261 62,264 
			 16. Islamic Relief (Transitional shelter and cash for work) 590,022 1,138,742 
			 17. ADRA (water infrastructure in transitional shelters) 440,000 849,200 
			  5,962,622 11,507,860 
			 Sub total for Sri Lanka 6,936,080 13,386,634 
			 Regional funding, a proportion of which is for Sri Lanka 
			 1. OCHA (Regional funding includes SL, but proportion not quantifiable) 10,000,000 19,300,000 
			 2. UNHCR (SL and Indonesia) 400,000 772,000 
			 3. UNICEF (India, Indonesia, Maldives and SL) 4,000,000 7,720,000 
			 4. UNICEF (Allocation for SL approximately 1/3 of this total) 2,000,000 3,860,000 
			 5. IFRC (Allocation for SL approximately 1/3 of this total) 2,000,000 3,860,000 
			 6. UNSECOORD (Allocation for SL approximately 1/3 of this total) 400,000 772,000 
			 7. WHO (Allocation for SL approximately 1/3 of this total) 3,000,000 5,790,000 
			 8. FAO (Allocation for SL approximately 1/3 of this total) 600,000 1,158,000 
			 9. World Food Programme/UNJLC (logistics) 1,000,000 1,930,000 
			 10. UK military assistance in kind (estimated cost) 2,750,000 5,307,500 
			 11. Treasury estimate for tax relief on public contributions to the DEC appeal made through the Gift Aid scheme. 50,000,000 96,500,000 
			 Sub total for regional funding including Sri Lanka 76,150,000 146,969,500 
			
			 Longer term assistance 
			 1. Debt relief over next 10 years (10 per cent. of Government of Sri Lanka's interest payments to IFIs, approximately $8 million p.a), to be used for post-tsunami work and other poverty reduction work 41,036,269 79,200,000 
			 2. Further support for longer term reconstruction is under consideration tbc tbc 
		
	
	Note:
	Exchange rate of 1:$1.93 is from the Financial Times of 3 January 2005

Statutory Instrument Sponsorship

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the statutory instruments sponsored by his Department since 1997.

Hilary Benn: Lists of all statutory instruments (Sis) from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2005, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) have today been placed in the Library. These lists, prepared in alphabetical order by department, detail for each year from 1998 the number and title of each statutory instrument sponsored by the department. There are separate lists for General and Local Sis. Sis which have been originated by departments but which were also Orders in Council are only listed under the Privy Council Office (PCO).

United Nations Population Fund

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the activities of the United Nations Population Fund on rates of abortion and sterilisation in China.

Gareth Thomas: I refer the Member for Southend West to the reply I gave to him dated 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1362W.

United Nations Population Fund

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list countries represented on the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund.

Gareth Thomas: The countries represented on the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund are:
	Membership of the Executive Board
	(term expires on the last day of the year indicated)
	2005
	African states:
	Botswana (2006)
	Cameroon (2006)
	Cape Verde (2005)
	Republic of the Congo (2006)
	Eritrea (2006)
	Gambia (2006)
	Tunisia (2005)
	Uganda (2007)
	Asian and Pacific states:
	China (2006)
	Democratic People's Republic of
	Korea (2007)
	India (2005)
	Indonesia (2006)
	Islamic Republic of Iran (2006)
	Kazakhstan (2007)
	Nepal (2005)
	Latin America and Caribbean states:
	Cuba (2006)
	El Salvador (2005)
	Guatemala (2007)
	Guyana (2007)
	Uruguay (2005)
	Eastern European states:
	Belarus (2007)
	Poland (2006)
	Russian Federation (2005)
	Ukraine (2007)
	Western European and other states:
	Australia (2005)
	Denmark (2006)
	Germany (2006)
	Italy (2005)
	Japan (2005)
	Netherlands (2006)
	Norway (2005)
	Portugal (2007)
	Sweden (2006)
	Switzerland (2007)
	Turkey (2007)
	United States (2007)

Water and Sanitation

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's funding for water and sanitation projects; and what proportions of this funding are provided for (a) private sector, (b) public sector and (c) community sector initiatives.

Hilary Benn: Water and sanitation, like education and health, are fundamental to the development of poor countries. On World Water Day, I announced that the UK will double its funding for water and sanitation in Africa over the next three years, from 47.5 million this year to 95 million in 2007. DFID is prioritising immediate action in 12 African countries. I also announced increased support for the European Union water facility and World Bank water programmes. The key to spending more money well will be helping governments in Africa to improve the priority given to water and sanitation in their own country plans, so that they better reflect the needs and aspirations of the poorest.
	DFID will finalise a report, Financing DFID Support to the Water Sector 200204 in August which will provide full statistics on DFID's bilateral funding, contributions to multilateral agencies and civil society organisations, public private partnerships, and contributions to research programmes. It will also estimate the proportions of the poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) and debt relief benefiting the water and sanitation sector. Many programmes directed primarily at education, health and other sectors also include a significant water and sanitation component. The total of all of these forms of support to the water sector is estimated at over 220 million in 200304. Comprehensive figures on total DFID support to water in 200405 are not yet available.

Water and Sanitation

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which water and sanitation projects funded by his Department in the financial years (a) 200304 and (b) 200405 were (i) mostly private sector, (ii) mostly public sector and (iii) mostly community sector initiatives.

Hilary Benn: DFID will finalise a report, Financing DFID support to the water sector 200204 in August which will provide full statistics on DFID's bilateral funding, contributions to multilateral agencies and civil society organisations, public private partnerships, and contributions to research programmes. The total of all of these forms of support to the water sector is estimated at over 220 million in 200304. Comprehensive figures on total DFID support to water in 200405 are not yet available.

World Bank and IMF

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote oversight of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by the parliaments of developing countries.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 19 July 2005
	DFID recognises the importance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank being transparent and accountable to parliaments in developing countries. Clearly, such accountability needs to be at the heart of their relationship.
	The main means by which parliaments should engage with the Bank and the IMF activities is through the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process. This is a national strategy for development that sets the agenda, which donors, including the World Bank, should follow in each country.
	In the past, parliamentary involvement in the PRS process has often been weak. However, over the past two years, DFID country offices have begun to support stronger involvement of parliamentarians in the PRS process. We are providing active support for parliamentary involvement in Malawi and Tanzania, where an independent Monitoring Group was established to oversee the joint commitments made around the PRS.
	In Board meetings, DFID encourages the World Bank and the IMF to engage with parliaments as much as possible. We also actively push for them to make more of their documents public and will continue to pursue this both at Board meetings and in discussions with staff. In fact, in March this year a new Bank disclosure policy was approved which, among other things, makes Board minutes public. The World Bank is now working closely with parliamentarians in some of its borrowing member countries to involve them in the design and implementation of its lending programmes.
	The World Bank Institute has a major Parliamentary Strengthening Programme. A key objective is to strengthen the capacity of parliaments to scrutinise the allocation and use of public funds, and oversee the PRS. Since it began in 1996, it has delivered activities in a range of countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia and Uganda.
	The World Bank Institute has also supported the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) and the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) to encourage parliamentary scrutiny and action against corruption.
	Outside the PRS, the main means of oversight is the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank. This provides opportunities for parliaments to scrutinise the World Bank and engage more deeply in development policy issues. The independent Network has some 450 members from over 90 countries and facilitates direct dialogue between parliamentarians and the World Bank to achieve greater transparency of policies and practices.

NORTHERN IRELAND

999 Calls

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency 999 calls were made in Northern Ireland in the last five years, broken down by emergency service.

Shaun Woodward: The numbers of emergency 999 calls received by emergency services in Northern Ireland in the last five calendar years are as follows:
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Fire 55,890 63,594 53,453 60,908 54,056 287,901 
			 Ambulance 91,392 104,167 109,870 115,009 113,242 533,680 
			 Police (60)64,248 124,393 120,355 108,068 106,506 523,570 
			 Total 211,530 292,154 283,678 283,985 273,804 1,345,151 
		
	
	(60) Figures prior to June 2000 not available.

Acute Hospital Beds

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average bed occupancy rate for each acute hospital in Northern Ireland was in the last period for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is detailed in the following table. The last period for which figures are available is 200304.
	
		Percentage bed occupancy rates (all beds) at each acute hospital 200304
		
			 Hospital Percentage occupancy 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Area 80.8 
			 Belfast City 83.8 
			 Causeway Hospital 81.4 
			 Craigavon Area 79.7 
			 South Tyrone 96.6 
			 Downe 81.0 
			 Lagan Valley 82.3 
			 Musgrave Park 75.7 
			 Mater Infirmorum 92.5 
			 Daisy Hill 75.2 
			 Royal Victoria 88.9 
			 Erne 69.8 
			 Tyrone County 85.5 
			 Ulster 88.3 
			 Antrim 77.7 
			 Mid Ulster 75.3 
			 Whiteabbey 95.8 
			 Total 83.0 
		
	
	This information can be found in the annual hospital statistics publication which is available from the House Library or
	http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/statsresearch/order.asp
	Figures that appear in the answer are the most up-to-date and take into account any amendments received subsequent to publication.

Audiology Goods and Services

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce direct referral of patients in need of a hearing aid from GP to audiology clinic.

Shaun Woodward: Direct referral by a GP to an audiology clinic already occurs in a number of Health and Social Services Trusts.
	The Department will consider the feasibility of implementing direct referrals to all Health and Social Services Trusts. Any new proposals will be determined on the basis of what best meets the clinical requirements of individual patients.

Cancer Research

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was spent on cancer research in Northern Ireland in the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: Funding for cancer research was centralised in 1999, when the research and development (RD) office of the HPSS was established. Since then, that office has allocated a total of 5.9 million for cancer research and related education and training initiatives. Details of expenditure on cancer research are not readily available prior to 1999. The RD office is currently engaged in a major research programme involving some 15 different projects focussing on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
	Funding for cancer research in Northern Ireland is also available from sources outside the Department, for example the Medical Research Council, the United Kingdom Cancer Research Council, the Imperial Cancer Research Foundation, Action Cancer and the Ulster Cancer Foundation. The pharmaceutical industry also provides funding to support clinical trials in cancer therapy. My Department does not hold information on these initiatives centrally.

Consultations

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost was of each consultation exercise carried out by Northern Ireland Government Departments in the last five years.

Angela Smith: The information sought by the hon. Gentleman is not readily available in the format requested. However, the amount spent on consultation exercises undertaken by Northern Ireland governmental Departments, including the Northern Ireland Office, between June 2001 and July 2004 is shown in the following table.
	
		NI Departments consultation costs June 2001 to July 2004 Northern Ireland Administration
		
			   
			 Department Consultation costs 
		
		
			 The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development 52,840 
			 The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure 31,918 
			 The Department of Education 576,529 
			 The Department of the Environment 147,589 
			 The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment 49,125 
			 The Department for Employment and Learning 145,594 
			 The Department of Finance and Personnel 5,477 
			 The Department of Health, Social Services and Public  Safety 374,378 
			 The Department for Regional Development 178,164 
			 The Department for Social Development 232,562 
			 The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 499,171 
			 Total 2, 293,347 
			 The Northern Ireland Office 28,347 
			 Grand total 2,321,694

Costello Report

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much (a) the Department of Education and (b) each education and library board plans to spend in (i) the 200506 financial year and (ii) in each of the next three financial years on implementing the proposals of the Costello Report on Post-Primary Education; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The total resources available to the Department of Education in the current financial year and over the next two financial years for the implementation of new arrangements for post-primary education are as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200506 5.6 
			 200607 7 
			 200708 12.1 
		
	
	Of this, the following resources have been allocated to the education and library boards to enable them to support and facilitate schools in their sector to deliver the Entitlement Framework by developing collaborative arrangements with other schools and further education colleges and generally to support work by schools to prepare for the implementation of new post-primary arrangements:
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200506 510 
			 200607(61) 520 
			 200708(61) 535 
		
	
	(61) Planning figure
	Budgets for 200809 have not yet been determined.

DLA

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are in receipt of the high rate mobility component of disability living allowance, broken down by (a) constituency, (b) council area and (c) postcode district.

David Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency DLA recipients in receipt of high rate mobility component 
		
		
			 Belfast East 3,890 
			 Belfast North 6,379 
			 Belfast South 3,461 
			 Belfast West 8,354 
			 East Antrim 3,411 
			 East Londonderry 3,425 
			 Fermanagh and south Tyrone 4,358 
			 Foyle 7,035 
			 Lagan Valley 4,171 
			 Mid Ulster 4,870 
			 Newry and Armagh 6,180 
			 North Antrim 4,036 
			 North Down 3,015 
			 South Antrim 4,272 
			 South Down 5,633 
			 Strangford 4,377 
			 Upper Bann 6,566 
			 West Tyrone 6,236 
			 Postcode missing(62) 966 
			 Total 90,635 
		
	
	(62) Constituency is assigned using the claimant's postcode, if the postcode is missing it is not possible to assign a constituency.
	All data is taken at 31 May 2005.
	
		
			 Council area DLA recipients in receipt of high rate mobility component 
		
		
			 Antrim 2,210 
			 Ards 3,358 
			 Armagh 2,863 
			 Ballymena 1,956 
			 Ballymoney 1,362 
			 Banbridge 2,238 
			 Belfast 18,258 
			 Carrickfergus 1,596 
			 Castlereagh 2,788 
			 Coleraine 1,936 
			 Cookstown 2,219 
			 Craigavon 5,234 
			 Derry 7,035 
			 Down 3,466 
			 Dungannon 3,237 
			 Fermanagh 2,288 
			 Larne 1,161 
			 Limavady 1,489 
			 Lisburn 5,001 
			 Magherafelt 1,484 
			 Moyle 718 
			 Newry and Mourne 5,344 
			 Newtownabbey 3,631 
			 North Down 2,561 
			 Omagh 3,105 
			 Strabane 3,131 
			 Postcode missing(63) 966 
			 Total 90,635 
		
	
	(63) Council area is assigned using the claimant's postcode, if the postcode is missing it is not possible to assign a council area.
	All data is taken at 31 May 2005
	
		
			 Postcode district DLA recipients in receipt of high rate mobility component 
		
		
			 BT1 44 
			 BT2 54 
			 BT3 (64) 
			 BT4 1,137 
			 BT5 1,992 
			 BT6 1,404 
			 BT7 638 
			 BT8 939 
			 BT9 536 
			 BT10 546 
			 BT11 3,036 
			 BT12 2,903 
			 BT13 2,345 
			 BT14 2,560 
			 BT15 1,828 
			 BT16 804 
			 BT17 2,004 
			 BT18 370 
			 BT19 1,375 
			 BT20 817 
			 BT21 302 
			 BT22 1,214 
			 BT23 1,980 
			 BT24 713 
			 BT25 542 
			 BT26 220 
			 BT27 836 
			 BT28 1,526 
			 BT29 397 
			 BT30 1,838 
			 BT31 396 
			 BT32 1,227 
			 BT33 557 
			 BT34 2,877 
			 BT35 2,730 
			 BT36 2,061 
			 BT37 1,308 
			 BT38 1,638 
			 BT39 682 
			 BT40 1,002 
			 BT41 1,833 
			 BT42 1,148 
			 BT43 619 
			 BT44 802 
			 BT45 1,168 
			 BT46 354 
			 BT47 2,948 
			 BT48 4,644 
			 BT49 1,041 
			 BT51 875 
			 BT52 658 
			 BT53 1,216 
			 BT54 333 
			 BT55 187 
			 BT56 217 
			 BT57 145 
			 BT60 1,543 
			 BT61 711 
			 BT62 1,719 
			 BT63 957 
			 BT64 94 
			 BT65 601 
			 BT66 1,749 
			 BT67 1,123 
			 BT68 43 
			 BT69 126 
			 BT70 1,198 
			 BT71 2,412 
			 BT72 (64) 
			 BT73 (64) 
			 BT74 754 
			 BT75 143 
			 BT76 95 
			 BT77 47 
			 BT78 1,865 
			 BT79 1,577 
			 BT80 1,506 
			 BT81 793 
			 BT82 1,977 
			 BT92 609 
			 BT93 413 
			 BT94 542 
			 BT95 (64) 
			 BT99 (64) 
			 Postcode missing(65) 468 
			 Total 90,635 
		
	
	(64) Denotes where there are less than 5 claimants in any one geographical area. Due to customer confidentiality, it is the Department for Social Developments policy not to disclose such information.
	(65) Postcode district is assigned using the claimant's postcode, if a postcode is missing it is not possible to assign a postcode district.
	All data is taken at 31 May 2005.

Domestic Violence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of domestic violence were reported to the police in Northern Ireland in (a) 199596, (b) 199697 and (c) 200405.

Shaun Woodward: Figures on cases of domestic violence reported to the police are only available from 200102 onwards. These are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of cases of domestic violence reported to police 
		
		
			 200102 14,937 
			 200203 15,512 
			 200304 16,926 
			 200405 20,959

DRD Retail Planning Document

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the timescale for public consultation on the Department of Regional Development's Retail Planning Policy document.

Angela Smith: My Noble Friend in another place (Lord Rooker) is considering the draft of Planning Policy Statement 5Retailing, Town Centres and Commercial Leisure Developments.

Education Funding

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the recently announced 12.5 million education funding will be allocated to the (a) pre-school, (b) primary school, (c) post-primary school, (d) integrated, (e) Irish-medium and (f) special needs sector; what criteria will be used to determine allocations; how much is new funding; and when he plans to begin distribution of the funding.

Angela Smith: Consideration is currently being given to the arrangements for distribution of the 12.5 million to the five education boards and the other education authorities. The 12.5 million comprises 3.5 million for special education, 2.5 million for school meals, 2.5 million for school maintenance, and a total of 4.0 million to help deal with the impact of falling pupil numbers and support the boards in developing shared services. 2.5 million of the 12.5 million is coming from the education budget, and 10.0 million has been found from earmarked funds in the budgets of other Government Departments. It is planned to notify allocations for special education, school meals and maintenance before the beginning of the next school year. Allocations in relation to falling pupil numbers and shared services are conditional on boards bringing forward robust plans.

Educational Psychologists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time equivalent posts for educational psychologists there are in (a) each education and library board and (b) Northern Ireland; and how many of those posts are vacant.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Education and library board Number of FTE(66) educational psychologist posts Number of vacancies 
		
		
			 Belfast education and library board 26.12 nil 
			 Southern education and library board 29.31 nil 
			 Western education and library board 25.5 2 
			 North Eastern education and library board 26.5 1 
			 South Eastern education and library board 22.8 nil 
			 Total Northern Ireland 130.23 3 
		
	
	(66) Full Time Equivalent

Emergency Services (Attacks)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attacks have been recorded on members of each emergency service in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Recorded attacks on fire and rescue and ambulance services were as follows:
	
		
			  Northern Ireland fire and rescue service Northern Ireland ambulance service 
		
		
			 2000 (67) 38 
			 2001 (68)124 95 
			 2002 410 122 
			 2003 327 188 
			 2004 327 125 
			 Totals 1188 568 
		
	
	(67) No records of attacks were kept prior to September 2001.
	(68) From September.
	Attacks on the Police Service of Northern Ireland were recorded as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 1,421 
			 200102 2,107 
			 200203 1,691 
			 200304 1,085 
			 200405 1,331 
			 Total 7,635

English Language Support

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will assess the adequacy of English as an additional language support in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education has written to each of the education and library boards asking them to advise the Department of the action they are taking to ensure the provision of adequate EAL services in their area.
	The Department has met with the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM), representatives of the Education and Library Boards and the Ulster Teachers' Union (UTU) and Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) to discuss how best to ensure the language service will be matched to the needs of these children. Discussions will continue over the summer months.

Hospital Telephone Calls

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many telephone calls were received each week on average by each of the hospitals in the Province in the last period for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available centrally.

Hospitals

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) intensive care and (b) high dependency unit beds there are in hospitals in Northern Ireland; how many (i) nursing and (ii) other staff are attached to each unit; and what plans he has to increase the number of (A) beds and (B) nursing staff at such units.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows:
	
		Table 1: Total number of intensive care and high dependency beds in hospitals in Northern Ireland as at 8 July 2005.
		
			 Hospital ICU HDU 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin 5 5 
			 Antrim 6 2 
			 Belfast City 7 5 
			 Causeway 2 2 
			 Craigavon 6 2 
			 Daisy Hill 0 5 
			 Erne 3 4 
			 Lagan Valley 0 2 
			 Mater 4 2 
			 Mid-Ulster 0 3 
			 Royal 17 8 
			 Tyrone County 0 2 
			 Ulster 6 4 
			 Whiteabbey 0 2 
		
	
	Source:
	HPSS Trusts
	In addition to beds included in table 1, there are a number of critical care beds held for a specific purpose:
	14 post operative high dependency unit beds are situated at Greenpark HSS Trust;
	Eight intensive care and six high dependency unit beds are situated at the Royal Victoria hospital in the cardiac surgery specialty;
	Seven paediatric intensive care beds and two high dependency beds are located in the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children.
	
		Table 2: Total number of critical care beds, and the number of dedicated nursing staff attached to critical care units(69), in hospitals in Northern Ireland as at 8 July 2005
		
			 Hospital Total beds Nursing staff(70) (WTE) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin 10 57.17 
			 Antrim 8 47.46 
			 Belfast City 12 67.5 
			 Causeway 4 22.13 
			 Craigavon 8 50.25 
			 Daisy Hill 5 9.67 
			 Erne 7 22.61 
			 Mater 6 26.0 
			 Royal 25 157.59 
			 Ulster 10 56.78 
		
	
	(69) It has not been possible to provide a breakdown of staffing levels between intensive care and high dependency beds as staff generally work between these two critical care units.
	(70) Nursing staff includes qualified and unqualified staff.
	Source:
	HPSS Trusts
	It has not been possible to provide an accurate figure for nursing staff in all critical care units. The hospitals listed in the table 2 have a specific complement of nursing staff dedicated to their critical care units. Critical care units at other hospitals may be staffed by a team of nurses who cover critical care and other specialties eg surgery.
	Other staff attached to critical care units include administrative and clerical staff, professional and technical staff and medical staff. A complete and fully representative figure for the number of other staff attached to critical care units is not available as they are often drawn from a hospital's pool of staff.
	Intensive care and high dependency provision has been expanded from 64 in 2000 to over 100 beds at present. The further development of critical care is regularly reviewed, and some additional capacity, with corresponding staff increases, is anticipated during the 200506 financial year. In the longer term, capacity at the Royal will increase from the current complement of 25 beds to 40 beds following the opening of phase 2, which is expected in 2010.

Message in a Bottle Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce to Northern Ireland the Message in a Bottle Scheme used in Scotland.

Shaun Woodward: The Message in a Bottle Scheme is a community safely initiative for vulnerable people. It is promoted in Great Britain on a voluntary basis by, among others, Lions and Rotary Clubs and Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and sponsored by local authorities, ambulance services trusts and police forces. I have asked the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to investigate how effective the scheme is judged to be elsewhere and the scope to introduce it in Northern Ireland.
	I will write to the hon. Lady when more information is available.

National Lottery

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the report of the departmental study group on the impact on churches and others opposed to gambling of reliance of the voluntary and community sector on lottery-based funding.

David Hanson: The Voluntary and Community Unit of the Department of Social Development commissioned research jointly with the Community Relations Council to assess the level of access to lottery funds by religious groups and the impact on groups with religious objections to applying for lottery funding. The Department and the Council are in the process of preparing a summary publication of the research for general release later in the year when the research report will be placed on the DSD website.

Pensions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are in receipt of state retirement pensions in each (a) constituency, (b) council area and (c) postcode area in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Total RP recipients 
		
		
			 Belfast East 16,437 
			 Belfast North 15,364 
			 Belfast South 14,426 
			 Belfast West 11,823 
			 East Antrim 14,339 
			 East Londonderry 13,605 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 13,288 
			 Foyle 12,465 
			 Lagan Valley 16,813 
			 Mid Ulster 11,728 
			 Newry and Armagh 14,605 
			 North Antrim 18,096 
			 North Down 17,153 
			 South Antrim 15,097 
			 South Down 15,719 
			 Strangford 16,624 
			 Upper Bann 16,017 
			 West Tyrone 11,607 
			 Postcode missing(71) 3,146 
			 Total 268,352 
		
	
	(71) Constituency is assigned using the claimant's postcode, if the postcode is missing it is not possible to assign a constituency.
	Note:
	All data are taken at 4 June 2005.
	
		
			 District council Total RP recipients 
		
		
			 Antrim 6,870 
			 Ards 12,834 
			 Armagh 8,241 
			 Ballymena 10,742 
			 Ballymoney 4,563 
			 Banbridge 6,504 
			 Belfast 45,840 
			 Carrickfergus 6,355 
			 Castlereagh 12,677 
			 Coleraine 9,688 
			 Cookstown 4,571 
			 Craigavon 12,644 
			 Derry 12,465 
			 Down 10,135 
			 Dungannon 6,931 
			 Fermanagh 8,091 
			 Larne 5,501 
			 Limavady 3,917 
			 Lisburn 16,222 
			 Magherafelt 5,423 
			 Moyle 2,791 
			 Newry and Mourne 11,937 
			 Newtownabbey 13,729 
			 North Down 14,928 
			 Omagh 6,328 
			 Strabane 5,279 
			 Postcode missing(72) 3,146 
			 Total 268,352 
		
	
	(72) Council area is assigned using the claimant's postcode, if the postcode is missing it is not possible to assign a council area.
	Note:
	All data are taken at 4 June 2005.
	
		
			 Postcode district Total RP recipients 
		
		
			 BT1 69 
			 BT2 111 
			 BT3 (73) 
			 BT4 5,144 
			 BT5 7,859 
			 BT6 5,874 
			 BT7 1,761 
			 BT8 4,855 
			 BT9 3,756 
			 BT10 2,182 
			 BT11 5,099 
			 BT12 3,856 
			 BT13 4,664 
			 BT14 4,845 
			 BT15 4,936 
			 BT16 2,776 
			 BT17 3,144 
			 BT18 2,844 
			 BT19 6,206 
			 BT20 5,891 
			 BT21 1,782 
			 BT22 3,245 
			 BT23 8,235 
			 BT24 2,727 
			 BT25 1,950 
			 BT26 1,570 
			 BT27 4,010 
			 BT28 5,601 
			 BT29 1,259 
			 BT30 4,732 
			 BT31 1,045 
			 BT32 3,452 
			 BT33 1,956 
			 BT34 7,651 
			 BT35 5,044 
			 BT36 7,005 
			 BT37 4,865 
			 BT38 6,565 
			 BT39 3,558 
			 BT40 4,595 
			 BT41 5,430 
			 BT42 5,990 
			 BT43 3,741 
			 BT44 3,516 
			 BT45 4,231 
			 BT46 1,267 
			 BT47 7,422 
			 BT48 6,302 
			 BT49 2,846 
			 BT51 3,987 
			 BT52 2,560 
			 BT53 3,852 
			 BT54 1,303 
			 BT55 1,590 
			 BT56 1,376 
			 BT57 828 
			 BT60 3,995 
			 BT61 2,473 
			 BT62 4,580 
			 BT63 2,914 
			 BT64 101 
			 BT65 558 
			 BT66 4,865 
			 BT67 2,683 
			 BT68 153 
			 BT69 339 
			 BT70 2,377 
			 BT71 4,605 
			 BT72 (73) 
			 BT73 (73) 
			 BT74 2,711 
			 BT75 542 
			 BT76 317 
			 BT77 175 
			 BT78 3,951 
			 BT79 3,103 
			 BT80 3,074 
			 BT81 1,138 
			 BT82 3,348 
			 BT84 (73) 
			 BT89 (73) 
			 BT92 2,104 
			 BT93 1,403 
			 BT94 2,017 
			 BT95 (73) 
			 BT99 (73) 
			 Postcode missing(74) 1,852 
			 Total 268,352 
		
	
	(73) Denotes where there are less than 5 claimants in any one geographical area. Due to customer confidentiality, it is the Department for Social Development's policy not to disclose such information.
	(74) Postcode district is assigned using the claimant's postcode, if a postcode is missing it is not possible to assign a postcode district.
	Note:
	All data are taken at 4 June 2005.

Personal Care

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he plans to make to the report submitted by the inter-departmental group on personal care to the Northern Ireland Executive on 8 August 2002.

Shaun Woodward: I have asked officials to update the findings of the report submitted to the Northern Ireland Executive on 8 August 2002. I shall then consider the revised costed options in the context of other Budget priorities before making any response.

Police Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many typist posts there were within the Police Service Northern Ireland on 1 January; and how many are anticipated to be required at (a) 1 January 2006, (b) 1 January 2007 and (c) 1 January 2008, broken down by district command unit area.

Shaun Woodward: The following table provides the number of typist posts within the PSNI as of the 1 January 2005 to 2008. Unfortunately, the individual area figures for 2007 and 2008 are not yet available and will be determined by workload and staff modelling in the preceding years.
	
		
			 Location 1 January 2005 1 January 2006 1 January 2007 1 January 2008 
		
		
			 HQ Departments 96.25 103 (75) (75) 
			 Antrim DCU 9 4.75 (75) (75) 
			 Ards DCU 7.5 5.25 (75) (75) 
			 Armagh DCU 4 4 (75) (75) 
			 Banbridge DCU 5.25 3.5 (75) (75) 
			 Belfast East DCU 11 7.25 (75) (75) 
			 Belfast North DCU 14.25 11.25 (75) (75) 
			 Belfast South DCU 17.5 13,25 (75) (75) 
			 Belfast West DCU 11.75 8 (75) (75) 
			 Ballymena DCU 7.25 4.75 (75) (75) 
			 Ballymoney DCU 3.75 2.75 (75) (75) 
			 Carrickfergus DCU 4.25 2.75 (75) (75) 
			 Coleraine DCU 9 5.25 (75) (75) 
			 Cookstown DCU 4 3.25 (75) (75) 
			 Craigavon DCU 10.75 7.75 (75) (75) 
			 Castlereagh DCU 6.25 4 (75) (75) 
			 Dungannon DCU 6.5 4.5 (75) (75) 
			 Down DCU 8 5.5 (75) (75) 
			 Fermanagh DCU 5 5 (75) (75) 
			 Foyle DCU 8.5 8.25 (75) (75) 
			 Lame DCU 4 3 (75) (75) 
			 Limavady DCU 3.75 3 (75) (75) 
			 Lisburn DCU 8.75 8.25 (75) (75) 
			 Maghaerafelt DCU 3.5 2.25 (75) (75) 
			 Moyle DCU 1 1 (75) (75) 
			 Newtownabbey DCU 6.25 5.25 (75) (75) 
			 North Down DCU 7.75 5 (75) (75) 
			 Newry and Mourne DCU 9 6.25 (75) (75) 
			 Omagh DCU 6.25 4 (75) (75) 
			 Strabane DCU 6 3.75 (75) (75) 
			 Urgan Region 1.75 1.75 (75) (75) 
			 Rural Region 4.5 3 (75) (75) 
			 TOTAL 312.25 260.5 246.75 233 
		
	
	(75) To be modelled

Pupil Expulsions/Misbehaviour

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were (a) suspended for a time and (b) permanently expelled from a school in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years, broken down by education board.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows:
	
		(a) the number of pupils suspended in each education and library board
		
			  BELB WELB NEELB SEELB SELB Total 
		
		
			 19992000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 200001 1,066 919 1,189 803 763 4,740 
			 200102 1,277 882 1,107 919 914 5,099 
			 200203 1,014 906 1,201 992 1,169 5,282 
			 200304 1,191 936 1,286 987 1,085 5,485 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	
		(b) the number of pupils expelled in each education and library board area
		
			  BELB WELB NEELB SEELB SELB Total 
		
		
			 19992000 19 25 20 3 16 83 
			 200001 5 19 29 11 16 80 
			 200102 7 16 18 12 23 76 
			 200203 18 12 17 16 7 70 
			 200304 6 12 15 12 26 71

Pupil Expulsions/Misbehaviour

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils were responsible for (a) bullying of a pupil, (b) physical attack on staff and (c) verbal abuse of staff in each school in the South Eastern education and library board in each of the past two years.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education do not collect or publish this information for individual schools. Information about the reasons for the number of suspensions in each education and library board in 200203 and 200304 and for expulsions in 200304 is available on the Department's website at:
	www.deni.gov.uk/facts_figures/education_stats/index_other.htm

Reasonable Chastisement

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what timetable he expects to be followed for legislation to amend the law on reasonable chastisement in Northern Ireland; whether he expects this amendment to be contained in new child protection legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The parliamentary debates on physical punishment, which resulted in the enactment of section 58 of the Children Act 2004, have been closely followed and the possible introduction of a similar amendment in Northern Ireland is the subject of ongoing inter-departmental discussions.

Replica Firearms

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many crimes have been committed in each of the last three years where replica firearms have been used.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has informed me that for statistical purposes there is no distinction made between replica and imitation firearms and that all incidents of misuse are recorded as imitation firearms.
	The number of crimes in which an imitation firearm was used in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of crimes 
		
		
			 200203 36 
			 200304 42 
			 200405 24

Residential Addresses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residential addresses there are in each (a) constituency, (b) council area and (c) postcode area in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The numbers of residential properties in each of the Northern Ireland constituencies is set out in Table A.
	The numbers of residential properties in each of the Northern Ireland council districts is set out in Table B.
	Information regarding the number of residential properties in each post-code area could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		Table A: Count of residential property by parliamentary constituency
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Count 
		
		
			 Belfast East 36,564 
			 Belfast North 38,131 
			 Belfast South 44,329 
			 Belfast West 32,939 
			 East Antrim 35,974 
			 East Londonderry 38,178 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 38,359 
			 Foyle 40,426 
			 Lagan Valley 41,863 
			 Mid Ulster 32,329 
			 Newry and Armagh 39,731 
			 North Antrim 42,001 
			 North Down 37,415 
			 South Antrim 39,122 
			 South Down 41,111 
			 Strangford 40,933 
			 Upper Bann 43,035 
			 West Tyrone 33,021 
		
	
	
		Table B: Count of residential property by local government district council
		
			 Local government district council Count 
		
		
			 Antrim 18,376 
			 Ards 31,257 
			 Armagh 21,334 
			 Ballymena 23,389 
			 Ballymoney 10,936 
			 Banbridge 17,449 
			 Belfast 123,186 
			 Carrickfergus 16,062 
			 Castlereagh 27,724 
			 Coleraine 26,639 
			 Cookstown 12,610 
			 Craigavon 33,640 
			 Derry 40,426 
			 Down 25,833 
			 Dungannon 19,624 
			 Fermanagh 24,169 
			 Larne 13,513 
			 Limavady 11,539 
			 Lisburn 42,719 
			 Magherafelt 14,285 
			 Moyle 7,676 
			 Newry and Mourne 33,717 
			 Newtownabbey 33,410 
			 North Down 32,927 
			 Omagh 18,541 
			 Strabane 14,480

School Governance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to review arrangements for school governance in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: A review of the arrangements for school governance in Northern Ireland has already commenced with a preliminary examination of the training and support programmes available for school governors and a focused review of school governance in the integrated school sector. The Department will gradually expand the review to cover a range of governance issues across all school sectors and will make proposals for change in due course.

Special Educational Needs

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken to process and determine an application for a statement of special educational needs was in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) each education and library board area in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: In relation to the longest time taken, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the previous answer given to the hon. Member for Strangford on 20 June, Official Report, column 866W.
	I shall write further when I receive the details from the Education and Library Boards relating to the average time.

Speech/Occupational Therapists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many established full-time equivalent posts there are in each health and social services board for (a) speech therapists and (b) occupational therapists; and how many of those posts are vacant.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		Number of speech therapists and occupational therapists by health and social services board as at 31 March 2005 (excluding current vacancies)
		
			  Speech therapists Occupational therapists 
			 HPSS board Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 NHSSB 83 73.55 159 143.07 
			 SHSSB 57 50.73 128 112.63 
			 EHSSB 161 134.82 307 273.65 
			 WHSSB 48 45.93 83 76.37 
			 Total 349 305.03 677 605.72 
		
	
	Source:
	Human Resource Management System
	
		Number of speech therapy and occupational therapy vacancies (including long-term vacancies) by health and social services board as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Speech therapy Occupational therapy 
			 HPSS board Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 NHSSB 10 7.1 12 10.5 
			 SHSSB 5 3.6 7 6.3 
			 EHSSB 7 5.5 41 34.6 
			 WHSSB 0 0.0 1 1.0 
			 Total 22 16.2 61 52.4 
		
	
	Source:
	NI HPSS Organisations
	
		Number of speech therapy and occupational therapy long-term vacancies (vacant more than 3 months) by health and social services board as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Speech therapy Occupational therapy 
			 HPSS board Headcount WTE Headcount WTE 
		
		
			 NHSSB 6 3.6 10 9.0 
			 SHSSB 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 EHSSB 4 3.0 20 17.6 
			 WHSSB 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 Total 10 6.6 30 26.6 
		
	
	Source:
	NI HPSS Organisations

Super Output Areas

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the super output areas (SOAs) in North Belfast that are in the top 10 percent. of most deprived SOAs in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The following table lists the 19 super output areas (SOAs) in Belfast North parliamentary constituency that are within the most deprived ten percent. of SOAs in Northern Ireland.
	
		Table: SOAs in Belfast North parliamentary constituency that are within the most deprived ten percent. of SOAs in Northern Ireland(76)(5508070077)
		
			  
		
		
			 SOA Name 
			 Ardoyne 1 
			 Ardoyne 2 
			 Ardoyne 3 
			 Cliftonville 3 
			 Crumlin 1 
			 Crumlin 2 
			 Dunanney 
			 Duncairn 1 
			 Duncairn 2 
			 Legoniel 1 
			 New Lodge 1 
			 New Lodge 2 
			 New Lodge 3 
			 Water Works 1 
			 Water Works 2 
			 Water Works 3 
			 Woodvale 1 
			 Woodvale 2 
			 Woodvale 3 
		
	
	(76) SourceNorthern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005 (NISRA).
	(77) Based on the Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM).

Unemployment

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: Labour force survey estimates of the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland for each of the last 10 years can be found in the following table:
	
		Northern Ireland unemployment rates (seasonally adjusted)
		
			 Percentage 
			 Period (spring) Unemployment rate 
		
		
			 1995 11.2 
			 1996 9.8 
			 1997 7.8 
			 1998 7.5 
			 1999 7.4 
			 2000 7.1 
			 2001 6.3 
			 2002 5.5 
			 2003 5.3 
			 2004 5.0 
			 2005 4.9 
		
	
	Source:
	NI Labour Force Survey

Water Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Government's proposals for reform of water rates in Northern Ireland are intended to be revenue-neutral.

Shaun Woodward: Unlike in England and Wales, domestic customers in Northern Ireland do not pay separate water charges. The current proposals for the introduction of direct domestic charges for water and sewerage services, together with the extension of the non-domestic charging regime, are intended to recover the full costs of delivering water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland.

HEALTH

Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry Report

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department expects to respond to the Health Select Committee's Fourth Report of Session 200405, on the Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry, HC 42.

Jane Kennedy: The Government are currently considering their response to the Health Select Committee report, which will be published shortly.

Adverse Drug Reactions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 201W, on adverse drug reactions, what the comparable figures for (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2003 were.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows the total number and number of fatal suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the yellow card scheme for patients aged 50 to 64, 65 to 74 and 75 years and over in 1997, 2001 and 2003.
	
		
			 Age (years) Number of ADR reports Number of fatal ADR reports 
		
		
			 1997   
			 5064 3,838 84 
			 6574 2,439 88 
			 75 and over 1,765 106 
			  
			 2001   
			 5064 5,145 137 
			 6574 2,835 104 
			 75 and over 2,248 151 
			  
			 2003   
			 5064 3,687 139 
			 6574 2,543 118 
			 75 and over 2,525 170 
		
	
	It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease. It is particularly important to note that causality has not been established for fatal reports.

Adverse Drug Reactions (Older People)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of bed days lost due to adverse drug reactions in (a) 50 to 64-year-olds, (b) 65 to 74-year-olds and (c) over 75-year-olds in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: No estimate has been made by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the number of bed days lost due to adverse drug reactions. The MHRA has, however funded a study conducted from November 2001 to April 2002, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 2 July 2004 1 , conducted in two large hospitals in Merseyside. This suggested that adverse drug reactions account for 6.5 per cent. of hospital admissions. The median bed stay was eight days, accounting for 4 per cent. of the hospital bed capacity. Patients admitted with adverse drugs reactions, who were of a median age of 76 years, were significantly older than patients without adverse drug reactions, who were of a median age of 66 years. A copy of the BMJ article is available in the Library.
	Source
	1 Pirmohamed, M. et al. Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18,820 patients. BMJ 2004;329:1519

Alcohol-related Illnesses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 728W, to the hon. Member for Southend West, (Mr. Amess) on hospitals (alcohol-related cases), what equivalent information is available for (a) Greater London, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each NHS trust in London.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Count of finished admission episodes for selected alcohol related diseases(78)strategic health authorities (SHAs) of treatmentLondon, method of admission: emergency national health service hospitals, England, datayear, 200304
		
			  Primary diagnosis 
			  F10 K70 T51 
			 SHA of treatment Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol Alcoholic liver disease Toxic effect of alcohol 
		
		
			 North West London Strategic HA 802 385 45 
			 North Central London Strategic HA 615 288 24 
			 North East London Strategic HA 917 262 28 
			 South East London Strategic HA 1,103 300 40 
			 South West London strategic HA 685 207 27 
			 Total 4,122 1,442 164 
		
	
	
		Count of finished admission episodes for selected alcohol related diseases(78)by SHAs of treatment, method of admission: emergency. National health service hospitals, England, datayear, 200304
		
			  Primary diagnosis 
			  F10 K70 T51 
			 SHA of treatment Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol Alcoholic liver disease Toxic effect of alcohol 
		
		
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic HA 814 372 65 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic HA 409 179 66 
			 Essex Strategic HA 555 205 24 
			 North West London Strategic HA 802 385 45 
			 North Central London Strategic HA 615 288 24 
			 North East London Strategic HA 917 262 28 
			 South East London Strategic HA 1,103 300 40 
			 South West London Strategic HA 685 207 27 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic HA 921 363 32 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic HA 925 253 49 
			 North  East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic HA 938 225 41 
			 West Yorkshire Strategic HA 1,087 397 149 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic HA 1,216 356 64 
			 Greater Manchester Strategic HA 1,589 756 103 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA 2,934 725 72 
			 Thames Valley Strategic HA 683 313 51 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic HA 666 222 60 
			 Kent and Medway Strategic HA 544 293 59 
			 Surrey and Sussex Strategic HA 1,102 362 38 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic HA 755 358 66 
			 South West Peninsula Strategic HA 904 295 65 
			 Dorset and Somerset Strategic HA 289 131 12 
			 South Yorkshire Strategic HA 660 286 19 
			 Trent Strategic HA 1,164 411 68 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic HA 550 200 54 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic HA 905 227 53 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic HA 1,553 589 47 
			 West Midlands South Strategic HA 764 291 30 
			 Total 26,049 9,251 1,451 
		
	
	
		Count of finished admission episodes for selected alcohol related diseases1 by trust, SHA of treatmentLondon, method of admission: emergency national health service hospitals, England, datayear, 200304
		
			   Primary diagnosis 
			   F10 K70 T51 
			  Primary care trust (PCT) or NHS trust Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol Alcoholic liver disease Toxic effect of alcohol 
		
		
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT 26   
			 5C5 Newham PCT 6   
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT *   
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 96 102 * 
			 RAP North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 55 26 * 
			 RAS The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 124 20 * 
			 RAT North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 96   
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 110 44 * 
			  RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 112 53  
			 RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 144 86 * 
			 RFW West Middlesex University NHS Trust 80 46 7 
			 RG2 Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust 106 40 6 
			 RG3 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 67 33 6 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 200 62 * 
			 RGZ Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 58 51 * 
			 RJ1 Guy's and St. Thomas1 NHS Trust 596 69 15 
			 RJ2 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 63 35 7 
			 RJ5 St. Mary's Hospital NHS Trust 55 68 * 
			 RJ6 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 88 55 7 
			 RJ7 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 131 68 12 
			 RJZ King's Healthcare NHS Trust 106 72 * 
			 RKE Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 123 56 * 
			 RKL West London Mental Health NHS Trust 82   
			 RNH Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 56 39 * 
			 RNJ Barts and The London NHS Trust 135 47 10 
			 RPG Oxleas NHS Trust 22   
			 RQM Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 36 43 21 
			 RQN The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 137 81 * 
			  RQX Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust 181 28 7 
			 RQY South West London and St. George's MH NHS Trust 230   
			 RRP Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust 154   
			 RRV University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 52 49 * 
			 RV3 Central And North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 33   
			 RV5 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust 85  * 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 117 74 7 
			 RVL Barnet And Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 81 55 11 
			 RVR Epsom/St. Helier NHS Trust 126 40 6 
			 RWK East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 98   
			 TAF Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust 54   
			  Total 4,122 1,442 164 
		
	
	(78) Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis;
	F10: Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol.
	K70: Alcoholic liver disease.
	T51: Toxic effect of alcohol.
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with *.
	3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	4. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data is ungrossed.
	Source:
	HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Alzheimer's Disease

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned to determine more cost-effective ways of treating Alzheimer's disease in addition to that being undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 13 July 2005
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is a special health authority, set up in April 1999 specifically to give advice to the national health service on best clinical practice, including the clinical and cost effectiveness of drugs and other treatments.
	The majority of the Department's expenditure on health research is allocated to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS, including some 160 to do with Alzheimer's disease can be found on the national research register at: www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Ambulance Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many ambulances there are in Lancashire; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many ambulances are operated by Lancashire ambulance trust; how many people work for Lancashire ambulance trust; and what assessment she has made of the service provided by the trust.

Liam Byrne: The number of ambulances operated by Lancashire ambulance service national health service trust is not held centrally.
	Each ambulance service should plan to provide appropriate resources to meet local demand. This may include resources in addition to ambulance provision, for example, using community paramedics or emergency care practitioners.
	As a result of the Department's strategic review of ambulance services, we expect the number of ambulance vehicles to increase over the next few years. The size of the fleet and fleet mix will vary across the country depending on operational and geographical requirements.
	The number of staff employed by the Lancashire ambulance service NHS trust is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Lancashire ambulance service NHS trust Headcount 
		
		
			 All non-medical staff 924 
			   
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 622 
			 Ambulance staff 622 
			   
			 Support to clinical staff 207 
			 Support to doctors and nurses 19 
			 Support to ambulance staff 188 
			   
			 NHS infrastructure support 95 
			 Central functions 36 
			 Hotel property and estate staff 18 
			 Managers and senior managers 41 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004
	NHS trusts are assessed by the Healthcare Commission on an annual basis. In 200405, Lancashire ambulance service NHS trust received three stars, the highest rating.

Arm's Length Bodies

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arm's length bodies have been (a) established and (b) dissolved by her Department since 30 November 2004.

Jane Kennedy: The list shows which of the Department's arm's length bodies have been established and dissolved since 30 November 2004.
	Bodies dissolved
	Family Health Services Appeal Authority
	Health Development Agency
	National Clinical Assessment Authority
	National Radiological Protection Board
	NHS Information Authority
	NHS Modernisation Agency
	NHS University (NHSU)
	Public Health Laboratory Service
	Bodies established
	Human Tissue Authority
	Health and Social Care Information Centre
	NHS Connecting for Health
	NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

Arm's-length Bodies

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff (a) by headcount and (b) by full-time equivalent, were employed in the arm's length bodies contained in her Department's review of arm's length bodies as at (i) September 2003, (ii) September 2004 and (iii) the most recent date for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of staff working in the Department's arm's length bodies are not readily available for September 2003 and 2004. The data shown in the table is available only in whole-time equivalents.
	
		
			 Body title 31 March 2003 1 April 2004 1 April 2005 
		
		
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence n/a 8 11 
			 Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health 5 197 189 
			 Commission for Health Improvement 347 n/a n/a 
			 Commission for Social Care Inspection n/a 2,622 2,551 
			 Dental Practice Board 354 321 272 
			 Dental Vocational Training Authority 2 4 3 
			 Family Health Services Appeal Authority 13 15 12 
			 General Social Care Council 85 173 262 
			 Health Protection Agency n/a 3,144 3,287 
			 Healthcare Commission n/a 771 761 
			 Health and Social Care Information Centre n/a 360 366 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 80 106 99 
			 Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts (Monitor) n/a 28 28 
			 Medical Devices Agency 154 n/a n/a 
			 Medicines Control Agency 490 n/a n/a 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency n/a 806 862 
			 Mental Health Act Commission 35 36 46 
			 National Biological Standards Board 283 308 313 
			 National Blood Authority 5,679 5,599 5,759 
			 National Care Standards Commission 2,291 n/a n/a 
			 National Institute for Clinical Excellence 43 230 230 
			 National Patient Safety Agency 55 238 238 
			 National Radiological Protection Board 318 315 n/a 
			 National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse 38 88 94 
			 NHS Appointments Commission 44 49 60 
			 NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service 78 250 250 
			 NHS Direct n/a 1,987 2,989 
			 NHS Estates 412 412 412 
			 NHS Litigation Authority 145 217 152 
			 NHS Logistics 1,340 1,403 1,457 
			 NHS Modernisation Agency 610 842 n/a 
			 NHS Pensions Agency 286 339 363 
			 NHS Professionals n/a 671 671 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency 316 333 341 
			 NHSU n/a 262 n/a 
			 NHS Connecting for Health n/a 767 767 
			 Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board n/a 27 36 
			 Prescription Pricing Authority 2,275 2,438 1,940 
			 Public Health Laboratory Service 3,216 69 n/a 
			 United Kingdom Transplant 122 121 130 
			 Totals 19,111 25,556 24,951

Bed Occupancy Rates

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average bed occupancy rate for each acute hospital in England was in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1606W.

Broadmoor

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people with Asperger's Syndrome are resident at Broadmoor;
	(2)  how many people diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome have left Broadmoor in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: There are currently 16 people resident at Broadmoor hospital who have Asperger's syndrome of some degree. The number of patients diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome that have left Broadmoor since 2000 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of patients discharged 
		
		
			 2000 0 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 1

Cancer Treatment

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out by her Department into the effectiveness of Anastrozole in treating breast cancer.

Jane Kennedy: None. It is for the manufacturer to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of medicinal products.

Cancer Treatment

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is taking to expedite approval of cancer treatments.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation which develops its guidance, including for cancer treatments, after careful consideration of the available evidence and in consultation with stakeholders. The process by which NICE develops its guidance is a matter for the Institute. Its processes have been developed through wide consultation, are transparent and have been endorsed by the World Health Organisation. NICE reviews its processes regularly in order to identify opportunities for efficiencies in the way they are applied.

Chlamydia

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS facilities in England which test for Chlamydia (a) exclusively use the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), (b) use NAAT alongside other methods and (c) do not use NAAT; and what percentage of all Chlamydia tests in 2004 used NAAT.

Caroline Flint: This information is not collected centrally. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are a mandatory requirement of the national chlamydia screening programme, which will be rolled-out across the whole country by March 2007. The chief medical officer wrote to all strategic health authorities in September 2003 and outlined the clinical governance issues raised by the continued use of sub-optimal tests for the detection of chlamydia infection. The Department also announced a further 8 million investment to assist national health service laboratories to support the change to NAATs.

Clinical Decisions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the conclusion of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Citizens' Council on the account to be taken of age as a factor in making clinical decisions.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) consulted on the draft Social Value Judgements Guidelines for a period of three months ending on 30 June 2005. NICE is currently considering responses to that consultation.

Clinical Negligence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total level of financial provision by the NHS in England is for future liabilities in respect of clinical negligence; if she will estimate what the level of such provision was on a consistent basis in each year since 1997; if she will break down the most recent total by type of liability; and if she will make a statement on recent trends in such liabilities.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The total level of financial provision by the national health service in England for future liabilities in respect of clinical negligence, as agreed by the National Audit Office, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Provision for clinical negligence ( billion) 
		
		
			 199697 1.3 
			 199798 2.3 
			 199899 3.2 
			 19992000 3.9 
			 200001 4.4 
			 200102 5.25 
			 200203 5.89 
			 200304 7.78 
		
	
	In 200304, the provision for clinical negligence was calculated as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Provision Amount ( billion) 
		
		
			 Opening position 5.89 
			 New provisions for reported claims 0.17 
			 Increase in provisions for incidents incurred but not yet reported 0.34 
			 Treasury change of discount rate 1.39 
			 Total (79)7.78 
		
	
	(79) Totals subject to rounding
	Notes:
	1. Treasury changes in accounting practice over the years mean that figures are not directly comparable.
	2. Increases in provisions for incidents incurred but not yet reported were only recorded from 200203.

Clinical Negligence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts have settled claims out of court for operations that resulted in the patient becoming permanently disabled in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not collected centrally.

Clinical Trials

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the EU Clinical Trials Directive on (a) the (i) administrative burden involved in undertaking and (ii) cost of clinical trials and (b) the ability of hospitals and patients to be involved in clinical trials.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The Government are monitoring the impact of the clinical trials directive in collaboration with its partners in clinical research. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the licensing authority for clinical trials under the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004, which implemented Directive 2001/20/EC (the Clinical Trials Directive) in United Kingdom law with effect from 1 May 2004. The MHRA asked the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) to analyse the available evidence on impacts that can be attributed to the Directive. The UKCRC has reviewed the preliminary evidence and found that no sources of information measure reliably the effects of the directive on the volume and type of clinical research, the difficulties or benefits it has produced, or the impact on research costs. It has agreed on the need for a reliable and independently derived set of metrics.
	At this early stage, there is evidence of good performance by the MHRA in approving clinical trials promptly and of a reduction in the time taken for ethics committee review. There is also evidence that in other respects, in 200405 it took longer to set up trials and to secure permission to begin them in some national health service organisations. This may in part have been due to confusion in universities and the NHS about the interpretation of the law, leading to inconsistent behaviour and delay in reaching agreement. Financial information also suggests an initial decline in the numbers of early phase trials recruiting volunteers outside the NHS. Members of the UKCRC, including the Government, have agreed to collaborate on actions designed to speed up the approval of trials and reduce costs. The Government aims to work with its partners to build on this country's excellent reputation in clinical research.

Clostridium Difficile

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 134445W on Clostridium difficile, what the first date was on which Clostridium difficile was reported to her Department in respect of each hospital trust.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The Department is not routinely informed of laboratory typing results of Clostridium difficile isolates. The data provided in the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 134445W, were obtained on 13 June as part of information gathering following the outbreak at Stoke Mandeville hospital and included all isolates of type 27 detected since 1999.

Commission for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has initiated a review of the powers available to the Commission for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence following the recommendations in the fifth report of the Shipman Inquiry; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We are currently working on our response to the recommendations in the fifth report of the Shipman Inquiry, and intend to reply to the report as a whole in a Command Paper. I do not propose to respond to questions about individual recommendations before laying our report before Parliament.

Complementary Medical Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish for consultation proposals for the statutory regulation of complementary and alternative medical practitioners.

Jane Kennedy: On 22 December 2004, the Department announced that a 900,000 grant would go to The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, to support its ongoing work on the regulation of complementary therapies.
	Proposals for statutory regulation of complementary and alternative medical practitioners will be considered in the context of the outcome of the current review of non-medical regulation, which is due to report by the end of 2005.

Correspondence

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances letters signed by hon. or right hon. Members and sent to her on behalf of constituents are answered by e-mails sent by customer call centre officials; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 18 July 2005
	All letters written by hon. or right hon. Members on behalf of constituents to the Secretary of State are answered by letter by the Secretary of State or by Ministers of the Department.

Delayed Discharges

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharge patients there were in hospital in the latest month for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area; and how many patients in each hospital had their discharge delayed while awaiting community care packages in that period.

Liam Byrne: Information showing the number of delayed discharges by local authority and the number of patients delayed while waiting for a care package in their own home by national health Service trust or primary care trust as at April 2005 has been placed in the Library.

Dementia

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units there are in England which specialise in the care of people with early onset dementia; and where they are situated.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally. However, as part of the annual mapping exercise of adult mental health services, organisations have in some instances indicated where services for those with early onset dementia are provided. Durham university's centre for public mental health, which carries out the mapping exercise on behalf of the Department, can produce this information on request.

Dentistry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what inspection procedures are in place for the work of dentists who undertake NHS work.

Rosie Winterton: The Dental Practice Board (DPB) for England and Wales is responsible for establishing the probity of payment claims for dentists working in the national health service general dental service and making payments to them for the work they have done. The DPB continually monitors dentists prescribing patterns and activity and the quality of treatment provided through the dental reference service (DRS). The DRS scrutinises a randomly selected sample of payment claims using questionnaires to patients, clinical record checks and treatment examinations. The form that patients sign at the dentist includes an agreement to attend an examination if requested. Adverse reports arising from the 55,000 random references are investigated and can be referred to the primary care trust (PCT) for disciplinary action.
	The DRS is currently piloting new clinical monitoring arrangements in order to support practitioners and PCTs with clinical governance and quality assurance issues under the new dental contracting arrangements, which will come into effect next April.

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the percentage of (a) adults, (b) children and (c) the total population registered with (i) a general dental services dentist and (ii) a personal dental services dentist in (A) England, (B) each strategic health authority and (C) each primary care trust in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Dentistry

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of NHS dental care in Rotherham.

Rosie Winterton: Over the past two years, Rotherham primary care trust (PCT) has made considerable progress in improving access to national health service dentistry.
	In 200405, Rotherham PCT received a total of 182,000 in capital funding and 78,000 in revenue funding, a large proportion of which has been distributed to seven practices within the PCT area to increase NHS access. The PCT anticipates this funding will deliver an additional 10,560 NHS patient registrations. This funding is also being used to fund the development of two new dental surgeries in a health centre in Rotherham, expected to be completed in 200506. The PCT has also been awarded funding to re-open a recently closed surgery, which should provide 2,888 additional patient registrations.
	As at 31 May 2005, there are 33 dental practices within the Rotherham PCT area, a number of which are currently accepting new NHS patients. The Rotherham Health Advice Centre actively manages access to NHS dentistry by directing patients to practices with vacancies as they become available. The dental access centre in the Dearne Valley accepts patients from all over South Yorkshire for a range of emergency dental treatment. In addition, three practices within Rotherham provide emergency pain-relief sessions.
	Rotherham PCT has recruited three Polish dentists from the Department's central international recruitment initiative. These dentists are now providing NHS services to patients in the area. The PCT has also been proactive in working with its dentists to move them to personal dental service contractswith over 60 per cent. of practices having taken up this opportunity to move to new ways of working.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Information on core Departmental numbers for the last five years is available at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/archived data/archived data on staff in post/index.asp.
	Copies of Civil Service statistics are also available in the Library.

Digital Hearing Aids

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average waiting time was for (a) a digital hearing aid assessment and (b) the routine supply of a digital hearing aid to wearers of existing hearing aids at the Leighton hospital in Crewe in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much funding her Department has made available for the provision of digital hearing aids (a) in England, (b) to primary care trusts in North Staffordshire and (c) to the University hospital of North Staffordshire;
	(3)  what the average waiting time was (a) in England and (b) at the University of North Staffordshire for (i) a digital hearing aid assessment and (ii) the routine supply of a digital hearing aid to users of existing hearing aids in the last period for which figures are available;
	(4)  what the reasons are for the current waiting times which hearing aid wearers have for a digital hearing aid assessment at the University of North Staffordshire.

Liam Byrne: The Department has invested 125 million into the modernising hearing aid services (MHAS) project since 2000. As a result, from April 2005, all 164 national health service audiology services in England should be routinely fitting digital hearing aids.
	Information on waiting times and local funding for provision of digital hearing aids is not held centrally.

Drugs Blacklist

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drugs are blacklisted from NHS prescriptions; what the reason is for the inclusion of each on the list; and when each drug was blacklisted.

Jane Kennedy: There are currently over 3,000 products which appear in Schedule 1 of the NHS (CMS Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc) Regulations 2004often referred to as the blacklist. This list can be found in Part XVIIIA of the Drug Tariff which is published monthly by The Stationery Office) or on the Prescription Pricing Authority's website at: www.ppa.org.uk/edt/July_2005/mindex.htm.
	Reasons for the inclusion of individual products could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, products may be placed on this schedule because they are either expensive in comparison to similar alternatives or have no therapeutic value.
	Many of the products listed were first subject to such restrictions in 1985 with the introduction of the selected list scheme following advice from the advisory committee on drugs. Again, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Drugs Blacklist

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether generic substitutes are available for those drugs that are blacklisted from NHS prescriptions; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Suitable alternative treatments to those listed in Schedule 1 of the NHS (CMS Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc) Regulations 2004 are generally available on the national health service. Alternatives may not be available where a treatment has been listed because it has no therapeutic value.

Drugs Blacklist

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library her Department's guidance to pharmacists about the blacklisting of drugs from NHS prescriptions ; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The pharmacists' terms of service, contained in the NHS (Pharmacy Services) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/641, says that they should not dispense a prescription on the national health service for products which are on Schedule 1 of the NHS (CMS Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc) Regulations 2004.
	The new GP Contract Regulations (NHS (CMS Contracts) Regulations 2004) also specify that doctors should not issue prescriptions on the NHS for such products.
	Copies of both sets of regulations are available in the Library.

Drugs Blacklist

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drugs have been removed from the NHS prescription blacklist in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: A list of which drugs have been removed from Part XVIIA (Schedule 1) of the Drug Tariff in each year since 1997 has been placed in the Library.

Elderly Care

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her latest estimate is of the number of people who have had to sell their homes to pay for their long-term elderly care since 1997.

Liam Byrne: It is not necessary for people to sell their houses on entry into residential care in order to fund their care costs.
	Since October 2001, councils have been able to enter into a deferred payments agreement. The aim is to allow people with property, but without income and other assets sufficient to meet their full assessed contribution, to have a legal charge placed on their property to meet any shortfall. Hence, people are able to keep their homes on admission to residential care and for the duration of the deferred payments agreement.
	There are a number other of measures in place to avoid people being forced to sell their former homes to pay for their residential care. These are set out in the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 and the Charges for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG).
	Local councils must ignore the value of the property where it continues to be occupied by the resident's spouse or partner; a lone parent with a dependent child who is the resident's estranged or divorced partner; another relative who is over 60 or who is incapacitated; or a child under 16 whom the resident is liable to maintain. Councils also have the discretion to disregard the value of the property in any other circumstances that they consider reasonable. For example, this discretion might be used where a former carer continues to live in the property.
	Since April 2001, councils must ignore the value of a resident's former home for the first 12 weeks of a permanent stay in residential care.

Emergency Contraception

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department was consulted by Oxford primary care trust about its decision to expand a pilot scheme offering free morning-after pills to teenagers to cover 24 pharmacies in their region; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: This is a local decision. There are a large number of schemes running in England and Wales where emergency contraception is being supplied to women of all ages free of charge in pharmacies. In these schemes emergency contraception is issued to women by pharmacists using a patient group direction under national health service arrangements. While the Government supports the development of these schemes, the decision to establish pharmacy supply under a patient group direction is a matter for local decision.

General Nursing Council Inspections

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the General Nursing Council Inspector has ceased to visit hospitals.

Jane Kennedy: The General Nursing Council ceased to exist in the late 1970s. It became the United Kingdom Central Council, which in turn gave way to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in 2003. The NMC does not have any statutory responsibility for visiting hospitals or any other health care providers.

Health Bodies (Consultation)

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group and the Scottish Medicines Consortium on (a) the dissemination of best practice and (b) steps to minimise duplication and improve cost and clinical effectiveness of new medical technologies and treatments.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and should be contacted direct for this information.
	The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) was established in October 2002 and appraises new drugs for use within Wales as interim guidance prior to the final publication of NICE appraisals. The AWMSG does not appraise medicines that have already been considered by NICE or on which NICE will soon publish guidance.
	The Scottish Medicines Consortium, established in October 2001, sends its recommendations to NICE on a regular basis for information.

Health Protection Agency

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at which sites the Health Protection Agency operates; how many full-time equivalent staff work at each site; what the specialisms of the agency are at each site; and what plans she has for the HPA in her review of non-departmental bodies.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 14 July 2005
	A list of sites at which the Health Protection Agency (HPA) currently operates and the whole-time equivalent staff numbers at each site has been placed in the Library. Data are not collected for the specialisms at each site. The specialisms and numbers of staff in each specialism for the HPA as a whole are shown in the table.
	
		
			  2005 2004 
		
		
			 Medical 258 249 
			 Nursing 166 154 
			 Professional, administrative and operational support 751 730 
			 Scientific 361 350 
		
	
	Following the review of arm's length bodies, our intention for the HPA is that, subject to legislation, it will take on the functions of the National Biological Standards Board. The HPA was created as a United Kingdom non-departmental public body on 1 April 2005.

Healthy Eating

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of overall funding to improve eating habits in 200506 is allocated to improving children's diets; and how much she plans to allocate to (a) improving eating habits and (b) improving children's diets in each of the next five years.

Liam Byrne: Choosing a Better Diet, a food and health action plan published on 9 March 2005 sets out the Government's strategy to improve people's health through improved diet and nutrition. 183.1 million has been allocated in 200506 to improving eating habits, of which 173.5 million has been specifically allocated to improving children's diets. Funding for each of the next five years has not yet been allocated.

Hip Replacements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hip replacement operations were performed in each of the last five years, broken down by primary care trust.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally in the form requested.
	Information on how many hip replacement operations were performed in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority boundaries, is available on the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development website at: www.nchod.nhs.uk

Illicit Medicines

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made by the (a) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and (b) her Department of the amount of medicine purchased by the public through illicit means; and what the 10 most common medicines purchased in this way are according to the most recently available figures.

Jane Kennedy: The criminal investigation unit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) investigates all suspected breaches of medicines legislation brought to its attention. Examples of illicit purchases include the internet, pubs, clubs, boot fairs and by mail order. Illicit sales by their nature involve hidden transactions for which records are not usually kept and occur outside of the tightly regulated and monitored licensed system. The MHRA and the Department therefore have no estimates for these types of purchases.
	The illegal sales that the MHRA has investigated predominantly involve lifestyle drugs which include those to treat erectile dysfunction, obesity, hair loss and anti-smoking. Erectile dysfunction medicines include Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Uprima which are all licensed for supply in the United Kingdom. However, unlicensed generic versions coming mainly from India and China have been and are being investigated.

Illicit Medicines

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made by the (a) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and (b) her Department of the amount of undetected counterfeit medicine products within the legitimate UK supply chain.

Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as the United Kingdom regulatory authority for medicines and medical devices, has made no such estimate.
	As part of its anti-counterfeiting strategy, the MHRA is extending its existing Medicines Market Surveillance programme, which currently targets medicines at the point of retail, to further target medicines across the whole of the legitimate UK supply chain. Over a period of time, this will provide evidence of the existence or not of counterfeit medicines in the legitimate UK supply chain. The extended market surveillance programme is being supported by key stakeholders such as the pharmaceutical industry, trade groups, patient groups, distributors and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and is a good example of collaborative work in this area.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the organisations and individuals consulted before the consultation on the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service was issued; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department launched the consultation on the arrangements for the future provision of the independent mental capacity advocacy (IMCA) service on 5 July 2005. Through this consultation, the Department wishes to identify how best to deliver the new independent advocacy provision for particularly vulnerable people who lack capacity.
	The consultation on the IMCA service builds on the many discussions held with interested stakeholders during the passage of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
	The Government consulted informally with a small number of stakeholders prior to the launch of the consultation document. These included Mencap, Help the Aged, the Association of Directors Social Services and the NHS Confederation as well as a consultant from Durham University who has been advising on the Independent Mental Health Act Advocate project and has established links with independent advocacy providers.
	The Government want to hear the views of all those interested in this important new service, including people who lack capacity, their families and carers, health and social care professionals care homes and independent and voluntary sector providers and independent advocacy organisations.
	The consultation period ends on 5 September 2005.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many copies of the consultation document on the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service have been produced; at what cost; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department launched the consultation on the arrangements for the future provision of the independent mental capacity advocacy (IMCA) service on 5 July 2005. The Government have published 1,000 copies of the main consultation document and 800 copies of the accessible version. A CD-rom of the consultation documents with audio recording of the easy read version, and translations of the executive summary in several ethnic minority languages will be available shortly. Costs for producing and publishing these documents are estimated at around 22,000.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations were sent copies of the consultation document on the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service; how many were sent to each; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department launched the consultation on the arrangements for the future provision of the independent mental capacity advocacy (IMCA) service on 5 July 2005. A copy of both the consultation paper and the accessible version were sent to the following organisations:
	Action for Advocacy
	Action on Elder Abuse
	ADSS, c/o West Sussex County Council
	Advocacy in Gateshead and South Tyneside
	Advocacy Matters
	Advocacy Matters (Wales)
	Advocacy Northants
	Advocacy Partners
	Advocacy Project
	Advocacy Services in Staffordshire (ASIST)
	Age Concern
	Age Concern West Sussex Advocacy Project
	All Wales People First
	All Wales Senior Nurse Advisory Group Mental Health
	Allies Advocacy
	Alzheimer's Concern Ealing
	Alzheimer's Society
	Asian Disability Awareness Action in Bradford (ADAAB)
	Association of British Dispensing Opticians
	Association of Directors of Social Services
	Association of Palliative Care-Ethics Committee
	Association of Public Authority Receivers
	Association for Real Change (ARC)
	Association of Nurse Consultants
	Autism Cymru
	Basildon and Thurrock Independent Advocacy Service (BATIAS)
	Bedfordshire Advocacy Service for Older People
	Beth Johnson Foundation
	Birmingham Disability Resource Centre
	Books Beyond Words
	Bournemouth and Poole Advocacy Services (Rethink)
	British Association and College of Occupational Therapists
	British Association of Social Workers
	British Bankers Association
	British Council of Disabled People (BCODP)
	British Deaf Association
	British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)
	British Medical Association
	British Psychological Society
	BTCV Birmingham
	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health NHS Trust
	Campbell Hooper
	Cardiff and the Vale Parents Federation
	Carers UK
	Carlisle People First
	Central England People First Ltd.
	Central Office for Research Ethics Committees (COREC)
	Central Office of the British International Doctors Association (BIDA)
	Change
	Changing Perspectives
	Choice Support
	Citizen Advocacy Information and Training (CAIT)
	Citizen Advocacy Lincolnshire Link
	Citizen Advocacy Trust in Gloucestershire
	Citizens Advice
	Cloverleaf Advocacy
	Colchester Mind Advocacy Service
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
	Complaints Procedure Advocacy
	Consumer Forum
	Counsel and Care
	County Durham and Darlington Priority Services
	Cranstock Day Service
	Dartford and Gravesham Advocacy Network
	Dementia Care Trust
	Disability Advocacy Project
	Disability Awareness in Action (DAA)
	Disability Rights Commission
	Disability Service Central Manchester
	Dorset Advocacy
	Dorset Mental Health Advocacy
	Downs Syndrome Association
	English Community Care Association
	Essex Social Services
	First Asian Support Trust (FAST)
	Foundation for people with Learning Disabilities
	Gateshead Advocacy and Information Network (GAIN)
	General Medical Council
	General Social Care Council
	GLAD
	Gloucestershire Advocacy Support Centre
	Harrogate Social Services Directorate
	Headway
	Healthcare Commission
	Help the Aged
	Help the Hospices
	Home Farm Trust
	Impact Advocacy Service
	Independent Healthcare Forum
	Intensive Care Society
	Inverclyde Advocacy Service
	Isle of White Healthcare Trust
	Kennet and N Wilts Advocacy Project
	Kensington and Chelsea Advocacy Alliance
	Kent Autistic Trust
	King's Fund
	Kingston Advocacy Group
	Law Society of England and Wales
	Leonard Cheshire
	Lewisham Independent Pensioner's Advocacy
	Local Government Association
	Manchester Advocacy Services
	Medical Research Council
	Mencap
	Mental Health Act Commission
	Mental Health Foundation
	Millennium Disability Agency (MILDA)
	MIND
	Mind in Brighton and Hove
	Minority Ethnic Learning Disability Initiative Ltd. (MELDI)
	Motor Neurone Disease Association
	National Assembly for Wales
	National Autistic Society
	National Centre for Independent Living
	National Coalition of Citizen Advocacy Schemes
	National Coalition of Volunteer/Citizen Advocacy Services
	National Forum for People with Learning Disabilities
	National Medium Secure Units Social Care Managers' Group
	Neurological Alliance
	New Dimensions Group
	Newcastle Social Services
	New Ideas
	NHS Confederation
	North Staffordshire Users Group
	North West Kent REC
	North West Wales Health Trust
	Nottinghamshire Health Care Trust
	Oxfordshire Advocacy Development Group
	Patient Concern
	People First
	Person to Person Citizen Advocacy
	Plymouth Racial Equality Council
	The Prevention of Professional Abuse Network (POPAN)
	Portsmouth Advocacy and Appropriate Adult Services/11 per cent. Advocacy
	Preston People First
	Rescare
	Respond
	Rethink
	Rethink Southend Advocacy Service
	Rix and Kay Solicitors
	Rotherham Learning Disability Service
	Royal College of Nursing
	Royal College of Ophthalmologists
	Royal College of Psychiatrists
	Royal College of Anaesthetists
	Royal College of General Practitioners
	Royal College of Physicians
	Royal College of Physicians Ethics Committee
	Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
	Royal College of Surgeons of England
	SCA Advocacy
	Scope
	Sefton Pensioners Advocacy Centre
	Sense
	Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities
	Sheffield Social Services
	Shared Voice in MIND
	Sheffield Social Services
	Skills for People
	Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE)
	Somerset Advocacy
	South Wiltshire Advocacy Network (SWAN)
	Spiral Skills Advocacy Project
	STEP (and Solicitors for the Elderly)
	Swindon People First
	Talkback Self Advocacy
	The Ann Craft Trust
	The Centre for Policy on Ageing
	The Oaklea Trust
	The Stroke Association
	The Zito Trust
	Thomas Snell and Passmore
	Turning Point
	UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum
	UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF)
	UK Advocacy Network
	United Response
	Values into Action
	Voice UK Ltd.
	Wirral Information Resource for Equality and Disability (WIRED)
	Witham Citizen's Advocacy
	The documents have been published on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/LiveConsultations/fs/en.
	A CD-rom of the consultation documents with audio recording of the easy read version, and translations in several ethnic minority languages will be available shortly.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the head of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate Service to be appointed; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: No decisions will be made on any arrangements for future provision of the independent mental capacity advocacy service until after the conclusion of the consultation on 30 September 2005.

Mental Health Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated to mental health services for people aged (a) 50 to 64, (b) 65 to 74 and (c) 75 years or over as part of the National Service Framework for (i) older people and (ii) mental health.

Liam Byrne: The resources that are necessary to deliver services in line with the national service frameworks (NSFs) for older people and mental health are included in the unified allocations made directly to primary care trusts (PCTs). It is for PCTs in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use these resources to deliver services in line with the NSFs.
	In July 2002, an extra 1 billion was announced for social services for older people by 2006.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a compromise agreement was signed by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service and their Chief Executive prior to her departure from the organisation.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The information is not collected centrally. Employment matters are the responsibility of the local ambulance trust.

MRI Scans

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to collect information on the number of MRI scans carried out in the County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority area.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Data on the number of magnetic resonance imaging scans carried out at County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority is already collected and published on the Department's website at: www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/.

Myasthenia Gravis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve the care offered to those with myasthenia gravis.

Liam Byrne: The Department intends to publish best practice guidance on musculoskeletal conditions later this year. In addition, the Government have already published the national service framework for people with long-term conditions.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures she has put in place to ensure the safety of commercial cloth laundering services supplying NHS maternity wards with communally laundered cloth nappies for newborn babies; at what temperature these nappies are washed; and at what minimum temperature she recommends reusable nappies are washed in the home to avoid the risk of infection;
	(2)  how many cases of enteric viruses were recorded in NHS hospitals using commercially laundered nappies in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  when she expects the proposed BSI safety standard for commercial cloth nappy laundry services to be finalised.

Liam Byrne: Commercial cloth laundering services supplying national health service maternity wards with communally laundered cloth nappies for newborn babies must comply with HSG(95)18, a copy of which is available in the Library. The guidelines set a thermal disinfection wash cycle in which the water temperature has been raised to 65 degrees centigrade for not less than 10 minutes or to 71 degrees centigrade for not less than three minutes.
	The Department advises parents that washable cloth nappies be laundered in a 60 degree centigrade wash. A hot wash cycle will destroy most vegetative bacteria and enteric viruses. However, water temperature is only one factor in the laundering process, as the cleansing effect of the detergent and the dilution effect of the pre-wash, wash and rinse is also important.
	Information on the number of cases of enteric viruses in NHS hospitals using commercially laundered nappies is not collected centrally. The number of hospital episodes for babies under three years of age with a primary diagnosis of enteric virus in England in 200304 is shown in the table.
	Information on when the proposed British Standards Institute safety standard for commercial cloth nappy laundry services will be published is yet to be finalised and is not currently available.
	
		Hospital episodes: babies and children under the age of three with primary diagnosis of enteric virus, England, 200304
		
			  Age 
			 Primary diagnosis(80) Less than 1 day 16 days 728 days 2990 days 91181 days 182272 days 273364 days 1 year old 2 years old 3 years old Total 
		
		
			 A080 1 2 37 94 167 252 279 669 213 80 1,794 
			 A081   1   2 1  1 2 7 
			 A082   2 11 12 11 7 11 2  56 
			 A083 1 2 78 309 322 486 438 820 306 176 2,938 
			 A084 3 4 163 823 1,094 1,440 1,430 3,622 1,622 977 11,178 
			 A085  1 4 6 6 9 3 12 3 5 49 
			 B341 1  2 4  2 3 4 7 3 26 
			 Total 6 9 287 1,247 1,601 2,202 2,161 5,138 2,154 1,243 16,048 
		
	
	(80) Diagnosis codes:
	A080Rotaviral enteritis
	A081Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norwalk agent
	A082Adenoviral enteritis
	A083Other viral enteritis
	A084Viral intestinal infection, unspecified
	A085Other specified intestinal infection
	B341Enterovirus infection, unspecified
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics.

National Infection Control Manual

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish a national infection control manual.

Jane Kennedy: In the light of the recommendation in the report from the National Audit Office in 2000 that the Department should produce an infection control manual, the Department carried out a scoping study aimed at establishing what infection control specialists wanted from an infection control manual. The study showed a clear consensus that what was wanted was a reliable and high quality infection control information resource, bringing together all national guidance and other source literature relevant to the prevention and control of infection, rather than an infection control manual as such.
	To meet this requirement a National Resource for Infection Control (NRIC) has been produced. The NRIC website went live in May 2005 at www.nric.org.uk and will be further developed over the next two years.

Neonatal Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure on NHS hospital neonatal care has been in each of the last eight years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally. Neonatal care services are provided through national health service general funding allocations. It is not possible to identify the neonatal element of this expenditure separately as it is included within the data for maternity gross expenditure, which is shown in table 1.
	The Department has made additional funding available specifically to improve neonatal intensive care services. This expenditure is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 1: Hospital and community health services (HCHS) maternity gross expenditure
		
			  million 
			 HCHS Programme budget cash figures: Gross expenditure Obstetric in patient funding 
		
		
			 199596 718 
			 199697 718 
			 199798 730 
			 199899 764 
			 19992000 801 
			 200001 844 
			 200102 752 
			 200203 854 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are for England only.
	Adjustments to expenditure figures are as follows:
	Excluded from figures:
	Well babies
	Private patients
	Supra regional offices
	Special health authorities
	Non-England United Kingdom residents
	Non-UK residents funded by the Department.
	Added to figures:
	Private purchases
	Health care purchased from the national health service outside of England.
	
		Table 2: Additional funding to improve neonatal intensive care services
		
			  million 
			  Funding 
			  Capital Revenue 
		
		
			 200001 6.5 5 
			 200102  5 
			 200203  5 
			 200304 20 12 
			 200405  19.857 
			 200506  20

Neonatal Intensive Care

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to introduce mandatory neonatal testing for cystic fibrosis in all English hospitals.

Liam Byrne: Ministers have agreed to the implementation of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis. About a fifth of babies born in England are offered newborn screening for cystic fibrosis. The United Kingdom national screening committee (NSC) has commissioned a programme of work to support national health service implementation from the UK newborn screening programme centre, based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
	Initially the emphasis is on developing the framework for the new programme and ensuring that existing screening provision meets consistent standards. The pace of further introduction of screening will depend on primary care trust's local priorities and resource commitment. The NSC will provide continued advice and help through the work of the UK newborn screening programme centre.

NHS Staff Assaults

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish Counter Fraud and Security Management Service figures on the number of prosecutions of persons alleged to have assaulted a member of NHS staff.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Information relating to the number of successful prosecutions obtained in 200405 against those who have physically assaulted national health service staff will be published shortly.

No Secrets Guidance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 107W, on No Secrets Guidance, what data are being collected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection in respect of the guidance.

Liam Byrne: The delivery and improvement statements submitted to the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) by councils in May 2005 included the following questions:
	Has the local authority (LA) established multi-agency adult protection procedures in accordance with No Secrets?
	Does the LA produce a multi-agency annual report or statement on vulnerable adults work?
	Does this detail the number of adult protection referrals received, investigations undertaken and investigations upheld as adult protection?
	The CSCI is currently undertaking a validation process and data from the delivery and improvement statements will be available from the CSCI in August 2005.

Osteoporosis Care

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the availability of treatments for osteoporosis following publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures.

Liam Byrne: No assessment has been made.
	The new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance will provide clear advice to the national health service and patients in England and Wales in an area where for some time there has been uncertainty.
	NICE is also developing guidance on the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women which is due to be published in September 2005, together with a clinical guideline on the assessment of fracture risk and the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in individuals at high risk which is due for publication in February 2006.
	Once NICE has issued guidance, we expect health authorities to take full account of it.

Patient and Public Involvement in Health

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policy considerations underlay the abolition of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The policy considerations which underlie the abolition of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) derive from the intention that the abolition of CPPIH will provide the opportunity for arrangements to be made for the provision of stronger, more efficient support and advice to forums. The reconfiguration of the Department's arms length bodies also announced the aim of reducing bureaucracy to generate 0.5 billion savings and to improve investment in the front line.

Patient and Public Involvement in Health

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat steps she plans to take to promote partnership working between NHS trusts, patient representatives and the voluntary sector to develop a patient-led NHS.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 July 2005
	Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 places a duty on national health service organisations to work with patients, the public and their representatives, including patient groups and the voluntary and community sector (VCS), to ensure services are fully informed by the experiences of those using them.
	Making Partnership Work for Patients, Carers and Service UsersA Strategic Agreement between the Department of Health, the NHS and the Voluntary and Community Sector, published September 2004, is aimed at strengthening partnerships between the NHS and the private and VCS health care sectors in order to improve the quality and range of service planning and provision of NHS services. A national strategic partnership forum with membership from all these sectors has been established to help the voluntary, community and public sectors work effectively together to deliver responsive, high quality health and adult social care services for patients, service users and carers.

Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent employees there are at the Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority centre in the City of Newcastle; and what plans she has for the PPA in her review of non-departmental bodies.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 14 July 2005
	Information on staffing figures for the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) is not held by the Department. The PPA is an independent body and should be contacted direct for this information.
	It is anticipated that the PPA will become part of the Business Services Authority (BSA) from April 2006. The BSA will also include the Dental Practice Board and the NHS Pensions Agency. It has not yet been finalised if the Counter Fraud and Security Management Services will form part of the BSA. Over time, the BSA expects to reduce the total number of posts by 25 per cent. compared to today. Where these posts will be reduced has not yet been determined as the business strategies are being formulated.

Prescriptions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by each primary care trust in (a) Essex and (b) Greater London on NHS prescriptions in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The expenditure by primary care trusts (PCTs) in Essex on prescribing costs is shown in table 1. Table 2 shows expenditure for London.
	The data shown is prescribing costs, which is the total cost relating to prescribing by general practitioners within the PCT area. The figures provided are from 200001, the first year that PCTs existed, through to 200304, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		Table 1: Expenditure by PCTs in Essex strategic health authority (SHA) area on prescribing costs
		
			  thousands 
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Basildon PCT n/a 10,322 11,963 13,253 
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford PCT n/a 14,973 17,714 19,728 
			 Castle Point and Rochford PCT n/a n/a 21,467 22,443 
			 Chelmsford PCT n/a n/a 14,056 16,186 
			 Colchester PCT n/a 16,527 18,160 20,198 
			 Epping Forest PCT 10,281 11,310 12,589 14,420 
			 Harlow PCT n/a 8,634 9,999 11,034 
			 Maldon and south Chelmsford PCT n/a 8,650 9,756 10,856 
			 Southend-on-Sea PCT 17,374 19,340 21,437 23,216 
			 Tendring PCT 16,300 17,971 20,290 21,978 
			 Thurrock PCT n/a 13,562 15,592 17,801 
			 Uttlesford PCT n/a 7,659 8,602 9,491 
			 Witham, Braintree and Halstead care trust n/a n/a 8,288 17,863 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Expenditure by PCTs in London on prescribing costs
		
			  thousands 
			 North West London SHA area: 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Brent Teaching PCT n/a n/a 27,423 33,157 
			 Ealing PCT n/a n/a 32,863 38,442 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT n/a n/a 17,011 17,450 
			 Harrow PCT n/a n/a 25,334 27,822 
			 Hillingdon PCT 22,609 25,036 26,846 29,342 
			 Hounslow PCT n/a n/a 23,597 26,091 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT n/a n/a 14,563 16,459 
			 Westminster PCT n/a n/a 19,636 20,976 
			  
			 North Central London SHA area: 
			 Barnet PCT n/a 35,773 39,302 43,156 
			 Camden PCT n/a n/a 20,504 21,875 
			 Enfield PCT n/a 27,249 29,999 33,288 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT n/a 22,340 24,014 25,780 
			 Islington PCT n/a n/a 19,799 21,342 
			  
			 North East London SHA area: 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT n/a 15,735 17,869 19,290 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT n/a 12,728 14,502 n/a 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT n/a 20,478 22,080 23,998 
			 Havering PCT n/a 24,852 28,445 30,966 
			 Newham PCT n/a 24,569 27,235 30,293 
			 Redbridge PCT n/a 17,254 18,709 n/a 
			 Redbridge PCT (following merger) n/a n/a n/a 28,237 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT n/a 18,285 20,327 22,387 
			 Waltham Forest PCT (following merger) n/a n/a n/a 25,849 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT n/a 14,278 15,959 n/a 
			  
			 South East London SHA area: 
			 Bexley care trust PCT n/a n/a n/a 28,178 
			 Bexley PCT 10,181 22,347 24,698 n/a 
			 Bromley PCT n/a 31,599 35,465 38,775 
			 Greenwich PCT n/a 21,908 24,689 27,024 
			 Lambeth PCT n/a n/a 28,192 30,984 
			 Lewisham PCT n/a n/a 27,651 30,552 
			 Southwark PCT n/a n/a 24,724 27,040 
			  
			 South West London SHA area: 
			 Croydon PCT n/a n/a 33,478 36,019 
			 Kingston PCT n/a 14,138 17,376 17,297 
			 Nelson and West Merton PCT 13,131 14,219 n/a n/a 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT n/a n/a 18,510 19,109 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT n/a n/a 38,450 41,540 
			 Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons PCT n/a 8,600 n/a n/a 
			 Wandsworth PCT n/a n/a 26,905 28,955 
		
	
	n/a=Indicates that a PCT was not in existence in that year.
	Notes to tables:
	1. Prescribing costs is the total cost relating to prescribing by GPs within the area accounted for by the PCT.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the above PCTs, 200001 to 200304.

Prescriptions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of (a) a national health service prescription and (b) a private prescription was in each year since 1975.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows the national health service prescription charges since 1975.
	The level of fees that the pharmacist charges for dispensing private prescriptions is not regulated by any body or organisation; it is a private transaction between the pharmacist and the customer. Therefore, the dispensing fee(s) incurred are set by the individual pharmacy or pharmacy chain.
	
		NHS prescription charges since 1975
		
			 Date Charge() 
		
		
			 1 April 1975 0.20 
			 16 July 1979 0.45 
			 1 April 1980 0.70 
			 1 December 1980 1.00 
			 1 April 1982 1.30 
			 1 April 1983 1.40 
			 1 April 1984 1.60 
			 1 April 1985 2.00 
			 1 April 1986 2.20 
			 1 April 1987 2.40 
			 1 April 1988 2.60 
			 1 April 1989 2.80 
			 1 April 1990 3.05 
			 1 April 1991 3.40 
			 1 April 1992 3.75 
			 1 April 1993 4.25 
			 1 April 1994 4.75 
			 1 April 1995 5.25 
			 1 April 1996 5.50 
			 1 April 1997 5.65 
			 1 April 1998 5.80 
			 1 April 1999 5.90 
			 1 April 2000 6.00 
			 1 April 2001 6.10 
			 1 April 2002 6.20 
			 1 April 2003 6.30 
			 1 April 2004 6.40 
			 1 April 2005 6.50

Primary Care Trusts

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget deficits of London primary care trusts were in 200405; and what the projected budget deficits are for 200506.

Jane Kennedy: The latest year for which audited data on the financial position of national health service organisations is available is 200304. The Department does not currently publish unaudited information.
	Audited information in respect of the 200405 financial position of all strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts, and will be available centrally in autumn 2005.

Ritalin

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her estimate is of the number of children currently being prescribed Ritalin.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 438W.

Seroxat

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to publish the findings of its investigation of pharmaceutical companies withholding information about Seroxat.

Jane Kennedy: This is a criminal investigation and therefore its results will not be published. At the conclusion of the investigation the evidence gathered will be supplied to Government prosecutors instructed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and they will apply the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors in order to decide whether a prosecution would be appropriate, as with other potential prosecution cases supplied to them by the MHRA.
	It should be noted that the investigation is only concerned with alleged non disclosures of information by GlaxoSmithKline Public Limited Company and its predecessor companies, no other pharmaceutical companies are under investigation.
	The investigation is ongoing and it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of how long it will take to conclude, as this will depend upon the nature, volume and complexity of the evidence uncovered in the course of the investigation. The investigation is being treated as a high priority by the MHRA and substantial additional resources have been applied by the MHRA with a view to expediting its progress.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to alleviate the financial deficit of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.

Liam Byrne: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every body achieves financial balance.
	Officials from the Department have been in discussion with Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA to ensure it is taking appropriate action in relation to the financial position of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital National Health Service Trust.

Single Assessment Process/Supporting People Programme

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work is being undertaken by her Department to ensure that the Single Assessment Process and the Supporting People programme complement each other in terms of assessment for eligibility and quality assurance framework.

Liam Byrne: Following the publication of Independence, Well-being and Choice, and Opportunity Age in March 2005, the Department is working closely with both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Work and Pensions to determine the extent to which different assessment processes used to determine eligibility for a range of services, can be streamlined and complement each other.

Smoking

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people who fell ill as a result of second hand smoke in (a) Huddersfield, (b) the West Yorkshire primary care trust area and (c) England in the last period for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS in each of these areas of treating people with diseases caused by second hand smoke in that period.

Caroline Flint: Information on the number of people who became ill as a result of second hand smoke in Huddersfield and the West Yorkshire primary care trust area and the cost of treating them is not held centrally.
	The most recent estimate of the number of workplace deaths caused by second hand smoke was published in the British Medical Journal on 2 March 2005, in a report by Professor Konrad Jamrozik. This gave an estimate of 617 deaths a year in the United Kingdom.
	The report went onto estimate that second hand smoke in the home accounts for a further 2,700 deaths in persons aged 2064 years and 8,000 deaths among people aged 65 years. The author acknowledges that the results are distinctly sensitive to some of the underlying assumptions.
	A copy of the paper is available in the Library.
	The cost to the national health service of treating disease and illness caused by smoking is between 1.4 billion and 1.7 billion a year.

Social Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of time taken is to process an application for registration with the General Social Care Council.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department. Information requested needs to be sought direct from the General Social Care Council.

Stroke Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition her Department uses for data collection purposes of specialist stroke service.

Liam Byrne: Acute trusts that have hospitals dealing with stroke patients have been asked whether they now provide specialist stroke services according to the definition set out in standard five of the national service framework for older people.

Taxis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she takes to control taxi use by officials in her Department.

Jane Kennedy: The Department requires that staff use taxis only if their use is cost effective and no suitable public transport is available.
	Staff in the Department will soon be reminded of the need to follow these requirements.